Booher, 52, Killed in Accident in Subcompact Race at Daytona

Joe Booher, 52, a veteran stock car driver from Montmorenci, Ind., was killed Friday in an accident during the running of the Florida 200 for subcompact sedans at Daytona International Speedway.

Booher, driving a Chevrolet, hit the wall after clipping another car in the first turn of the second lap of the race. When Booher’s car slid down off the banking in the middle of the track, it was hit in the right front by a Chevrolet driven by Rodney White.

Booher was air-lifted to Halifax Hospital Medical Center, where he was declared dead at 11:45 a.m. White, 37, of Gaffney, S.C., was also taken to Halifax, where he was treated for a broken back. His condition was listed as serious.

A graduate of Purdue University, Booher was a farmer and trucker who had been racing since 1958. He has driven nearly every year since 1970 at Daytona in various types of races. In his only Daytona 500 start, he finished 17th in 1980.

The fatality was the 22nd at the speedway since it opened in 1959. The last occurred in 1990, when Slick Johnson died four days after being involved in an accident during the ARCA 200.