DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The first day of official Sprint Cup practice for the 2012 season was a difficult one.

 

The first session of practice for Saturday night’s Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway Friday was marred by a five-car crash late in the 45-minute run. And the second practice, scheduled to last an hour, ran only nine minutes when rain moved into the speedway area, forcing officials to cancel the rest of the session.

 

Ford Racing’s Matt Kenseth turned in the fastest speed of the two sessions, spinning a lap at 201.762 miles per hour in the first practice.

 

Two other Ford drivers – David Ragan in third and Carl Edwards in eighth – were in the top 10 as 25 drivers logged times in the first session.

 

Only 12 drivers got on the track in the second session before it was cut short by rain.

 

Jamie McMurray had that session’s fastest speed at 197.698. Greg Biffle had the fastest Ford at 196.331. The speeds from that session are somewhat misleading, however, because no one was able to run more than four laps before the rain came.

 

The first practice ended with a multi-car crash as defending series champion Tony Stewart ran into the rear of Kurt Busch’s car, sparking a melee that blocked the track.

           

Also involved in the crash were Penske Racing teammates AJ Allmendinger and Brad Keselowski and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch.

 

Several of the teams went to backup cars for Saturday night’s race.

 

The 75-lap race will be split into segments of 25 and 50 laps, with a 10-minute “pit session” scheduled between the segments.

 

The shootout began in 1979 as a sprint race for pole winners from the previous season. Buddy Baker won the first race. The format and eligibility requirements have changed many times over the years.