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A spectacular crash involving the car of Kyle Larson (32) takes place the last lap of the DRIVE4COPD 300 Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Beach, Florida Saturday, February 23, 2013. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

Huge wreck in NASCAR Nationwide race injures at least 28 fans

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A massive wreck that sent a tire and engine parts into the grandstand area and many people to area hospitals with injuries marred the finish of Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway.

At least 28 fans were injured. DIS president Joie Chitwood said 14 fans were treated on site and 14 were taken to local hospitals. Chitwood did not give any updates on their conditions.

Twelve cars were involved in the carnage, which saw driver Kyle Larson's No. 32 Chevy torn in half as it sailed into the outside wall while nearing the start-finish line and its engine catapulted into the safety fence, tearing a gaping hole in it.

Debris from the wreck, including car body and engine parts, sprayed into the spectator area. A tire, ripped from the suspension of a crippled car, appeared to strike at least one fan in the stands.

While mayhem struck the track and cars banged off the wall and off each other, NASCAR veteran Tony Stewart drove to victory in his No. 33 Chevrolet, albeit a sober one.

Brad Keselowski, the defending Sprint Cup champion, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were two of the drivers taken to the infield care center at DIS. Both were checked and released.

Michael Annett, driver of the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford, was taken to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach and will be kept overnight for observation. He was treated there for bruising on his chest. Miraculously, Larson was able to walk away from the horrendous impact that destroyed his car.

Keselowski's Penske teammate Sam Hornish Jr. finished second to Stewart in his No. 12 Ford, while rookie Alex Bowman was third in his No. 99 Toyota.

The ugly incident appeared to be triggered when Regan Smith in the No. 7 Chevrolet and Keselowski in the No. 22 Ford got together as the pack raced to the stripe.

Cars got turned sideways and Larson, also a Nationwide rookie, got lifted sideways into the wall and safety fence, his car splitting in two on impact.

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