Wallace Can’t Seem To Avoid Those Darned Rookie Drivers

This is not a news item. Rusty Wallace crashed in the Daytona 500. The only newsy part is that he crashed while the field was under caution.

“I can’t believe it,” Wallace said after his fourth crash in the last five Daytona 500s. “The caution flag was waving. I went to the bottom of the track, I started to slow down, and the 43 car (Bobby Hamilton) never lifted and went around the top. I can’t get away from rookies that always keep crashing out here. It’s so aggravating.”

At least Wallace ran longer this time. Last year, he crashed on lap 62 (finishing 41st). This time, he lasted 158 laps and finished 34th.

Watch that wind sheer

Bobby Labonte, driving his first race for car owner Joe Gibbs, had a splendid run going until he lost it in the second turn on his 186th lap.

Labonte was running fifth when the wreck occurred.

“I just got up on the outside of Ted Musgrave going into turn 1,” Labonte said. “I don’t know - all the air was taken off somewhere, or I hit an air pocket.”

Way to go, rook

Ricky Craven had the best finish of any rookie in Sunday’s race, 16th. In fact, he was the only one in the lead lap at the end.