Five Of The Wildest NASCAR Fires From This Decade
By Nick Livers
October 2011: Talladega Transporter Fire
Regan Smith’s #78 car hauler produced a cloud of black smoke after the Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega.
The fire reportedly started when Smith’s crew removed a fuel probe from a gas can and attempted to empty the gas into a separate container, when a spark caused the ignition. Crews initially scattered, and alert members grabbed fire extinguishers. They managed to contain the fire without injuries or extensive damage.
It was a lucky break, because the garage area is typically swarming with teams and media members after races. Smith’s car was nowhere near the incident because it had been dropped off in another part of the garage after an earlier race incident. This came a year after the team lost a tractor trailer and motorcoach in an accident while driving in icy conditions.