Thursday 14th February 1980
During the first of the Twin 125 qualifying race in sight of the Daytona 500, driver Ricky Knotts from Michigan lost control of his Oldsmobile #31, after the car’s hood suddenly blew off. Knotts crashed into the wall on the outside, bounced back to the center of the track and was violently hit by the Mercury #39 driven by Wangerin, then spun across into the inside retainer. A total of nine competitors were involved in the accident. Knotts died instantly having struck his head into the wall.