Waltrip Has Surgery After Crash

Race car driver Darrell Waltrip underwent more than three hours of surgery on injuries sustained during practice for the Pepsi 400, in Daytona Beach, Fla., an orthopedic surgeon said Saturday.

Waltrip suffered a concussion, a broken left elbow and his left leg was broken above the knee in a seven-car crash Friday at Daytona International Speedway. The operation at Halifax Medical Center concluded early Saturday.

Dr. Albert Gillespie said he attached a metal plate about 18 inches long to Waltrip’s broken thigh bone. Numerous metal screws were used to attach the plate to the bone.

Waltrip’s elbow was placed in a splint. There are no plans to put a cast on Waltrip’s leg, and he should be able to begin therapy Tuesday, Gillespie said.

The race was to have been the 500th NASCAR Winston Cup event of Waltrip’s career.