Wallace refutes report he failed to contact Yost

RCR crewman undergoes reconstructive surgery Thursday

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Contrary to a recent report, Rusty Wallace said Thursday that he had, in fact, attempted to contact Richard Childress Racing crewman Josh Yost throughout the past week.

"I left him messages," Wallace said. "If he listens to his messages at his house he'll see I called and left a long, apologetic message."

Rusty Wallace

Wallace and Yost finally spoke via cell phone Thursday morning.

"I just spoke with him and he's fine," Wallace said.

Yost, the jack man for Jeff Burton's No. 31 Cingular Chevrolet, was struck by Wallace's Dodge during a pit stop in the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway.

An RCR team spokesman who had spoken directly with Yost on Wednesday told NASCAR.COM's Marty Smith that Wallace had not yet spoken with Yost.

The spokesman said Yost had his cell phone with him throughout his hospital stay and had not received a call from the 1989 Cup Series champion.

Smith then reported that information on SPEED Channel's NASCAR Nation Wednesday, greatly upsetting Wallace, who explained he had tried to contact Yost at home and had left messages on his home answering machine.

"I'm glad I've spoken with him and that he's OK," Wallace said.

Yost's right ankle suffered two ruptured ligaments, torn ligaments and a severe laceration in the incident, which the team confirmed would sideline him for the remainder of the 2005 season.

Exploratory surgery Tuesday also revealed that the tip of Yost's right fibula was crushed. Yost had reconstructive surgery Thursday, and may be able to go home Friday, the team said.