Crashes Take Out Primary Cars of Foyt, Four Others at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A six-car crash and two other accidents in practice for Sunday’s Daytona 500 forced five drivers, including A.J. Foyt, to move to backup cars for today’s Twin 125-mile qualifying races.

The worst of the wrecks in Wednesday’s practice on Daytona International Speedway’s 2 1/2-mile oval involved 1972 champion Foyt, Brett Bodine, Ricky Rudd, Michael Waltrip, Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Bobby Hillin Jr.

There were no injuries, but the cars driven by Foyt, Dallenbach, Waltrip and Hillin were badly damaged, and the teams all said they would use backup cars for today’s qualifying races.

Earlier, rookie Mike Wallace hit the wall in Turn 4, escaping injury, but losing the services of his No. 1 car.

Dick Beaty, NASCAR’s Winston Cup director, said the backup cars will start from the rear of their qualifying races, but the teams will be allowed to keep the qualifying speeds posted earlier this week. If any of those cars do not qualify today, they would have to make the race on the basis of those speeds.