Norm Benning’s No. 9 Chevrolet burst into flames at Talladega last year (Image: Getty)
Last season’s Love’s RV Stop 225 ended in dramatic fashion for Norm Benning at Talladega Superspeedway.
Competing in the No. 6 Chevrolet for Norm Benning Racing, the then-73-year-old’s truck suddenly burst into flames on lap 65, immediately triggering a caution. Benning managed to exit the vehicle as the NASCAR Safety Crew arrived, though he appeared to collapse onto the track surface while being assisted. He was subsequently placed into an ambulance and taken from the scene.
The incident came after Benning had already returned to the garage earlier in the race for repairs, adding to the concern surrounding the frightening episode. The cause of the fire was later determined to be a result of a catastrophic engine failure. Meanwhile, an IndyCar star gives up on F1 dream with ruthless Mario Kart comparison.
Smoke rapidly filled the cockpit as Benning steered down the banking and urgently tried to exit the truck, pulling down the window net before appearing to fall out as the AMR Safety Team rushed to his aid. Amid the chaos, his crew could be heard over the team radio urging him to stop immediately and get out, directing him toward the nearby ambulance as the situation unfolded.
Safety crews responded within seconds, quickly extinguishing the flames before assisting Benning to the infield care center. He was later reported to have suffered minor smoke inhalation along with irritation on his right side. “A little smoke inhalation and the right lungs,” he explained. “I got to go back in the morning for some treatments.”
Norm Benning is the oldest driver in NASCAR (Image: Getty)
Still, the veteran refused to dramatize it. “Never had a race car so fast in my life,” he said. “I had the net down and the belt loose before I got stopped. I just got out of there as quickly as I could. I was holding my breath, but couldn’t hold it anymore, so I took in some smoke. My whole right side feels like it’s sunburned. But I’m fine.”
The chaos was not limited to the later incident, as the race saw trouble from the outset. Championship contender Grant Enfinger crashed out on lap four after contact from Chandler Smith triggered a spin. The early incident quickly escalated into a multi-truck collision, with fellow Round of 8 contenders Daniel Hemric and Ty Majeski among those caught up in the wreck.
The outing marked Benning’s 11th race of the 2025 season, continuing his long-running part-time involvement in the Truck Series dating back to 2002. Over the course of his career, Benning has also made select appearances in the Xfinity Series between 2002 and 2004, while competing sporadically in the Cup Series from 1989 to 2011—though he last qualified for a race at that level in 1993.
Despite the incident, Benning entered into his final race of the season, the Slim Jim 200 at Martinsville the following week but was unable to finish the race after being involved in a yellow flag incident.
Asked before the race on why he was planning to get right back behind the wheel despite this incident and his injuries, Benning proved that racing drivers really are different, noting that he was more frustrated about losing the $75,000 engine than anything else. “I’m just disappointed I lost an engine. That’s all,” he said.
Benning entered the 2026 season at Daytona but failed to qualify for the race. The now 74-year-old is yet to enter another Craftsman’s Truck Series race so far this year.