Auto Racing

Bill Elliott won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona Beach, Fla., in a race where there was a frightening crash that sent Darrell Waltrip’s Chevrolet tumbling end over end at least six times on the infield. The car’s hood, roof and trunk were torn away.

Waltrip hurt his shoulder but, remarkably, was released from a hospital after tests found no serious injuries.

Elliott took his only lead with 12 laps to go and held on for his first victory this year and his first at Daytona International Speedway since July 1988.

The race drew 105,000 fans, and most of them roared in approval of the 35-year-old Elliott’s victory. Once the most dominant driver on the Winston Cup circuit, he won for the first time since last September at Dover, Del.

Waltrip crashed on the 119th lap as he and Alan Kulwicki and Joe Ruttman raced three abreast. Waltrip’s Chevy, in the middle, came together with Kulwicki’s Ford and then veered into Ruttman’s Olds.

Waltrip’s car went onto the grass, ran over a road used for motorcycle racing and became airborne. Sheet metal and dirt went flying as the mangled car spun to a rest on its side.

Kulwicki and Ruttman stayed in the race.

There were three other caution periods, the longest after a seven-car chain-reaction collision on the 13th lap. It began when Lake Speed’s Pontiac turned sideways coming out of turn two after it was bumped from the rear. The accident sidelined Speed and three other drivers.