The Love’s RV Stop 225 came to a frightening end for NASCAR’s oldest driver, Norm Benning, on Friday afternoon. Competing at Talladega Superspeedway in the No. 6 Chevrolet for Norm Benning Racing, the 73-year-old’s truck burst into flames on lap 65, immediately bringing out the caution.

With flames bellowing from the entire underside of the truck, Benning was quick to drop down the banking as he threw open his window net as the eqtuinguisher went off. “Get it stopped, right there. Ambulance is right there. Get out,” he was urged over the team radio.

Benning was able to get out of the truck as the AMR Safety Crew arrived, appearing to fall onto the asphalt as they came over to assist him. He was ultimately loaded into an ambulance and transported away from the scene, according to FOX.

Both Benning’s condition and the cause of the incident remain unclear. Notably, it took place after he had already taken his truck back to the garage for repairs earlier in the race, via Steven Taranto.

Friday marked his 11th race of the season, having raced part-time in the Truck Series since 2002. Previously, Benning has also made a handful of appearances in the Xfinity Series between 2002 and 2004, while he has also been sporadically involved in the Cup Series from 1989 to 2011, although he last qualified for a race in 1993. 

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This was far from the first notable incident of Friday’s race, however, with championship hopeful Grant Enfinger crashing out on lap four following a push from Chandler Smith, which ultimately spun out, with Round of 8 competitors Daniel Hemric and Ty Majeski among those to also be caught up in the melee.

Following his DNF, Enfinger told Bob Pockrass of the upcoming Round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway, where he’ll be looking to win to reach the Championship Four, “I don’t like that race being a cutoff race for us in the Truck Series. But yeah, if we’re an opportunity to try to advance our way, we’ll try to do what it takes to do that. 

“I hope none of us step over the line, but our line has been pretty blurry in years past. And our focus right now is just put ourselves in position and hopefully we can get it. 

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“We’ve been fortunate enough to do it there before, four or five years ago. So yeah, not the best position to be in, but it’s pretty clear right now that that’s the case.”

Later in the race, another prospective title winner, Layne Riggs, found himself heading for the wall thanks to another push from Smith.

The checkered flag eventually fell in overtime after seven cautions, with 19-year-old rookie Gio Ruggiero reaching victory lane for the first time in his young career behind the wheel of the No. 17 Tricon Garage Toyota. Teammate and arguably the championship favorite, Corey Heim, finished just behind him in second, with Majeski in the No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford in third.