Fresh off a strong run at Dover International Speedway, points leader Tony Stewart was looking forward to starting Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series from the top-spot. The owner/driver assumed the first starting spot after rain washed out qualifying Friday afternoon, but after an incident in Saturday’s opening practice session Stewart will be forced to start from the rear of the field.

The driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet had posted the third-fastest time of the session, but lost control of his ride going through the tunnel turn. While Stewart was able to keep it off the wall, the front of the car was destroyed when he hit a divot in the grass. The damage was too much to repair and the team was forced to roll out the back-up car. 

"I went off into the grass but I hit the right front of the splitter with I guess one of the access roads or something and ripped the whole nose off of it," Stewart said after the incident.

By rolling out the back-up car, Stewart will give up his front row starting spot and will drop to the rear of the field prior to the drop of the green flag. The two-time Cup Series champion is not worried about making his way to the front of the field come Sunday.

"Yeah, I mean if you look at how Jeff Gordon ran last week and ended up with a bad part there for a little bit, but had a good car,” Stewart added. “We'll be the same thing. This car will be good. It's just that we're losing on the race track right now."

Last week’s winner Jimmie Johnson was fastest in the day’s first practice posting a time of 53.697 seconds at a speed of 167.607 mph. Stewart’s teammate Ryan Newman was second-quick in his No. 39 Chevrolet after running a lap of 53.974 seconds at a speed of 166.747 mph. Denny Hamlin and Jeff Gordon rounded out the top-5.

 MORE NASCAR NEWS