Fuller, Sacks crash in Winston Cup practice

DAYTONA, Fla -- Jeff Fuller and Greg Sacks crashed in Monday morning's Winston Cup practice at Daytona International Speedway, forcing both of their race teams into a scramble mode in their efforts to make the Daytona 500.

"We had just gotten in a pack going down into three," Fuller said. "Sacks had gone underneath and I guess his car just came right out from underneath him. …He tried saving it, got up into us and the rest is history. I am an innocent bystander - a sore innocent bystander."

Fuller complained of some neck pain and his status for the rest of this week's activities is not certain. A decision on that is expected to be made this morning.

Fire from a loosened fuel line added to the damage on Fuller's Pontiac and the team will have to use a backup car in Thursday's 125-mile qualifying race.

"It's heartbreaking," said Barry Dodson, Fuller's crew chief. "We put 90 percent of our effort into this one car, knowing it might not qualify well. I've been here long enough to know what races well, and it was certainly doing that. The time sheet proves that."

Fuller had, in fact, run the 13th fastest lap in a Monday morning practice session of cars drafting in their race set-ups.

Dodson said the backup car was not as fast as the primary car in January tests, but that's the only option available now.

"We're just going to calm down and try to do everything right on this car and then race our way in," said Dodson, who said if Fuller isn't able to drive he would likely turn to a driver like Mike Wallace who has raced at Daytona before.

"But I hope Jeff is going to be fine," Dodson said. "I hope he is."

Sacks' team, owned by Beau Petty, did not have a backup car at the track and was trying to buy one from another team Monday afternoon.