ARCA drivers hospitalized

UPDATE ARCA Series drivers Patrick Sheltra and Larry Hollenbeck were released from the hospital Monday, two days after being involved in a late crash during the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway. The series said both drivers were released from Halifax Medical Health Center to the care of their personal physicians.

Sheltra was running third when he got tagged from behind by Justin Lofton. The collision sent Sheltra's car into the wall. As it slid back down Daytona's steep banking, Hollenbeck sped through the turn and a cloud of smoke and slammed into the side of Sheltra, sending Sheltra's car spinning several times across the track.

It took safety workers about 20 minutes to get Sheltra out of his battered car. There was no word on the extent of their injuries.

Daytona's bumpy surface causes many wrecked race cars and sends drivers to the hospital.

02/08/09 Patrick Sheltra and Larry Hollenback remained in a Daytona Beach hospital Saturday night following wrecks in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 season opener. Sheltra, 22 was rear-ended by a car driven by Hollenbeck, 60, of Kalamazoo, Mich., after an initial accident occurred in front of them. A Daytona International Speedway spokesman said Sheltra and Hollenbeck were conscious and alert when they were transported to nearby Halifax Health Medical Center. Bobby Gerhart, 50, a five-time winner of the Daytona race, was treated and released after an earlier incident in a race that featured six multi-car pileups. Emergency crews needed extra time to extricate Hollenbeck as well as Sheltra, who finished 15th in last year's ARCA 200, his Daytona debut. USA Today