Roush back on track after accident

DOVER, Del. -- Jack Roush is back at the track, back in the pilot's seat and feeling like "the luckiest person in the world."

The NASCAR team owner was at Dover International Speedway on Friday, his first public appearance since an airplane crash nearly killed him on April 19.

"I flew up here today," Roush said. "I don't want to waste any time. Every day is special and these are extra days."

Roush, using crutches but otherwise appearing healthy, was delighted to be back in his element, watching his four cars qualify. And he got a great welcome-back gift when Matt Kenseth won the pole for him for Sunday's MBNA Platinum 400.

Missing from the car owner's side was Larry Hicks, the retired Marine who pulled Roush from the submerged light plane that crashed into an Alabama lake.

"He was supposed to be here, but he was delayed. That's the first time he hasn't been there when I needed him," Roush said with a laugh.

The return of Roush to the track was the latest development in his amazing recovery from a head injury, multiple breaks to his left leg, a bruised lung and fractured ribs.

Roush's ability to bounce back from his injuries has been astounding to many, among them Dr. Samuel Wyndham, who treated the car owner at University Hospital in Birmingham, Ala.

An avid pilot who flies his own planes to many races, Roush had been celebrating his 60th birthday when he crashed after striking some wires two days before an event at nearby Talladega Superspeedway. He was alone in the plane.

Roush said he was lucky to crash over water.

"I'm upside-down, I've still got some air left in my lungs and lo and behold there's Larry Hicks," he said. "When he jumped in the water there was no proof there wasn't going to be a fire."

Hicks, familiar with rescue procedures, dived through the high-octane aviation fuel floating to the surface to find the wreckage in eight feet of water. He freed Roush and brought him to the surface.

Only by chance did Roush crash just as Hicks had a small boat ready to go out on the lake.

"I crashed in exactly the right spot at the right time," Roush said. "I was the luckiest person in the United States and maybe the luckiest person in the world."