The first half of the field made it through Hell Corner before the mayhem began, less than 30 seconds into the race.
Several cars ping-ponged off each other and were sent spinning just a few hundred metres up Mountain Straight.
Ninth place qualifier Brock Stinson was left stranded in the middle of the track. With nowhere to go, Clay Richards ploughed into Stinson.
The worst was to come, however. Harrison Blanchard drilled the back of Richards who was sandwiched between two cars.
Once the dust settled, there were five cars left parked at various parts of the circuit and several more damaged.
An ambulance was sent to the scene of the accident, and the race was abandoned. Richards was stretchered and put in an ambulance to be taken to Orange Hospital.
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Supercars was set to start Practice 4 at 1:05pm AEDT but was delayed as a result.
A little more than an hour after the crash, Supercars provided an update on Richards via the broadcast.
“There was some concern for Clay Richards, driver of car number #7 who had that nasty impact in what was a multi-car crash on Mountain Straight,” said Supercars presenter Chad Neylon.
“I can update our fans that Clay is thankfully conscious and communicating with the Team Medical Australia crew and has since been transported by road to Orange Hospital where he is currently in a stable condition and is there for observation at the moment.
“There is some good news there for Clay, and obviously fans of Steven Richards and Jim Richards and a lot of fans here at Bathurst this weekend who are enjoying the show.”
Clay is the son of five-time Bathurst 1000 winner Steven Richards and the grandson of seven-time winner Jim Richards.
GR Cup is scheduled to have Race 2 at 2:55pm AEDT on Saturday.
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