Accident Spoils Said’s Strong Run in Mexico City

Boris Said's day ended abruptly in Mexico City.  While running in seventh place and making a charge to the front, Said's No. 25 Ford Fusion got wrecked with 26 laps remaining in Sunday's NASCAR Nationwide Series road race. Said, who had claimed top-five finishes in the last three Nationwide races at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez road course, was credited with a frustrating 35th-place result.

The blow that caused Said to retire from the race prematurely came on Lap 54 of 80 when Marcos Ambrose tagged Said's No Fear Energy/Smithfield/Advance Auto parts Ford as it was exiting Turn One.

"We were in great position," offered Said, who qualified fifth. "Marcos Ambrose just cheap shotted me and took me out. He either made a mistake or he's incredibly stupid. He hooked my left rear in turn one. He had me sideways for a while and then just turned me around.”

Said did not suffer any injuries in the accident but his car was totaled as it was towed to the garage. Ambrose, who finished second, was apologetic for the miscue. “If I could take it back, I would. I didn’t mean to get into Boris. I've idolized him in the past and still do. If I could turn the clock back,” Ambrose said, “I would. It's just hard racing up there."

Kyle Busch battled for the lead Sunday in the Nationwide Series Corona Mexico 200 and eventually sprinted to his third consecutive Nationwide Series victory. Marcos Ambrose finished second followed closely by Scott Pruett.

Bobby Hamilton, Jr. will be back behind the wheel of the Team Rensi/Smithfield #25 Ford Fusion for the Aaron’s 312 race at Alabama’s Talladega Superspeedway. The race is on ABC on Saturday, April 26 at 2:30 p.m., EST.