Newz Forum: AUTO: Roy Smith die's in boat accident

Roy Smith, who tempted fate on racetracks from Western Speedway to Daytona for more than 30 years, has died. He was 58.Four-time NASCAR Winston West Series champion Roy Smith drowned when a commercial fishing trawler sank off northern Vancouver Island, rescue officials said.

Smith, 59, of Malahat, was a crew member of the 80-foot Hope Bay, which foundered in heavy seas early Thursday about 60 miles north of Vancouver Island in Queen Charlotte Sound. Two other members died, and one was rescued, Dennis Kimoto of the Rescue Coordination Center in Victoria said.Smith competed in the Daytona 500 three times,a four-time champion of the NASCAR Winston West Circuit and was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame in 2002. His best finish at Daytona was 10th in 1982.

[Edited on 2/29/2004 by Ben]

[Edited on 2/29/2004 by Ben]