Tires went flying, flames boiled under several cars and a massive pileup on the 2.66-mile track brought out a red flag and briefly halted the race.
The other drivers included Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Matt Kenseth, Danica Patrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Busch, Johnson and Stenhouse — and eventually Harvick, who tried to keep going for a few more laps, were among the playoff drivers that were finished for the day. The Alabama 500 is the second of three races in the Cup Series playoffs Round of 12, with the second elimination race next weekend at Kansas Speedway.