Ken de la Bastide Column: Flying race car at Daytona

Once again, the restrictor plate racing at Daytona resulted in numerous big wrecks, and for the second time, Ryan Preece’s car became airborne.

Preece survived a terrifying crash at Daytona two years ago when his car flipped violently. It resulted in the grassy area being removed from the track’s infield.

This past Sunday, Preece’s car looked like it was doing a “wheelie” before flipping over into the outside wall and coming to a stop in the infield.

Thankfully Preece was able to climb out of his destroyed race car with no apparent injuries.

But after the race, he was quick to point out that something has to be done by NASCAR to prevent the cars from becoming airborne.

The hood flaps that are supposed to keep a car from flipping didn’t deploy until Preece’s car was rolling to a stop.

During the overtime, several cars were crashing behind the leaders. NASCAR officials decided not to turn on the caution lights, allowing the leaders to race back to the finish.

William Byron won for the second consecutive year, followed by Tyler Reddick and seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, who managed to miss the carnage.

Other racing news

There are already 38 entries for the 77th annual running of the Little 500 at Anderson Speedway on May 24. That means there is already enough cars entered to fill the 33-car field with more entries expected before May.

There are four former winners entered, including Kody Swanson, Tyler Roahrig, Bobby Santos III and Kyle Hamilton.

Caleb Armstrong, who won last year with a last lap pass of his cousin, Dakoda, is not on the entry list, although an entry has been submitted by Randy Neal.

Other notable drivers include Kyle O’Gara, Justin Grant, Shane Hollingsworth, Ryan Newman, Billy Wease and Logan Seavey.

Five rookies are entered, including Elwood’s Beau Brandon driving for car owner Pat Rice.

Local entries have been filed by Donnie Adams Jr., Travis Welpott and Rob Keesling.

Anderson’s Greg VanAlst finished 26th in the Xfinity race at Daytona after starting 16th. He was caught up in a multi-car accident on lap 120, just six laps from the finish.