Wreck knocks three out of Pepsi 400

David Jones

Sunday, July 2, 2000 | 2:49 a.m.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The first crash of Saturday night's Pepsi 400 came on lap 82 and knocked Michael Waltrip, Jeremy Mayfield and Terry Labonte out of the race.

None of the trio had threatened the leaders all night, however.

While others attributed the crash to an oil leak, Waltrip said it was a breakdown in Labonte's car that started the pileup.

"Something had to break on (Labonte's) car," Waltrip said. "We were right behind him and he spun out. I've never seen anything quite like it. We were just coming into three and Terry spun out.

"This car is going to come back. I thought Terry had blown a tire but I went over there and looked and all four Goodyears were up. He just turned around."

Daytona International Speedway director of communications Glyn Johnston said Mayfield left the track with a bruised right shoulder. He was treated and released from the infield care center. Labonte went to Halifax Hospital for observation and evaluation. Waltrip walked away unhurt.

"We had the best Chevy here," a disappointed Waltrip said.

While none of the trio of cars were near the leaders, the crash hurt Mayfield and Labonte in the Winston Cup point standings. Mayfield came into the race 16th. Labonte was 12th.

Getting knocked out early gave both a hit in the points race. But Labonte and Mayfield both left the racetrack realizing it could have been a lot worse.

Gary DeHart, crew chief for Labonte's No. 5 Kellogg's Monte Carlo, said Labonte was knocked out when his car slammed against the wall.

"Evidently Terry was knocked out for a little while. ... Probably some of the worst wrecks we've ever had in the sport have been similar to that," DeHart said. "The good thing about it, the wall was kind of going in the right direction when he hit.

"If he had hit in the corner, it would have been worse. We were tight a little bit tonight, but it wasn't bad."

Waltrip vowed his team will bounce back and took the crash in stride.

"It was a great run for this team," Waltrip said. "But I ended up crashing. It wasn't bad."