73-year-old Norm Benning was involved in a terrifying incident during Friday’s Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway, with his truck bursting into flames
Norm Benning’s No. 9 Chevrolet burst into flames at Talladega(Image: Getty)
The Love’s RV Stop 225 took a terrifying turn for NASCAR’s oldest driver, Norm Benning, on Friday afternoon. Racing at Talladega Superspeedway in the No. 6 Chevrolet for Norm Benning Racing, the 73-year-old’s truck erupted in flames on lap 65, instantly triggering the caution flag.
With fire roaring from the truck’s entire undercarriage, Benning quickly descended the banking while throwing open his window net as the extinguisher activated. “Get it stopped, right there. Ambulance is right there. Get out,” came the urgent message over team radio.
Benning managed to exit the vehicle as the AMR Safety Crew reached the scene, seemingly collapsing onto the pavement as they rushed to help him. He was eventually placed in an ambulance and taken from the track, FOX reported. It comes after Denny Hamlin made an honest admission over his celebrations after victory in Las Vegas.
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Details about Benning’s medical status and what triggered the fire incident remain unknown. Remarkably, this occurred after he had already returned his truck to the garage for maintenance earlier during the race, according to Steven Taranto.
Friday represented his 11th outing of the season, having competed part-time in the Truck Series since 2002. In the past, Benning has also made several starts in the Xfinity Series between 2002 and 2004, while he has intermittently participated in the Cup Series from 1989 to 2011, though his last successful qualification came in 1993.
Sign up to our NASCAR newsletter here. This wasn’t the only major drama from Friday’s race, though, as championship contender Grant Enfinger crashed out on lap four after getting a shove from Chandler Smith, which sent him spinning.
Round of 8 competitors Daniel Hemric and Ty Majeski were also swept up in the chaos.
After his early exit, Enfinger spoke to Bob Pockrass about the upcoming Round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway, where he’ll need a victory to make 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.
Benning made his NASCAR debut in the Cup Series in 1989(Image: Getty)
“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.
“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 during the race, another potential champion, Layne Riggs, ended up slamming into the barrier after yet another push from Smith. The checkered flag finally dropped in overtime after seven cautions, with 19 year old rookie Gio Ruggiero claiming his first career victory driving the No.
17 Tricon Garage Toyota. His teammate and potential championship favorite, Corey Heim, finished a close second, while Majeski, driving the No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford, secured third place.