25 March 2023 , 23:05
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NASCAR driver Zane Smith’s Ford truck exploded into flames in scary scenes after winning in Austin, with firefighters rushing to limit the damage from his victory celebrations.
The 23-year-old won in the NASCAR Truck Series race at the Circuit of the Americas on Saturday and celebrated with a burnout, causing the mud flaps to catch alight. But the burnout resulted in the truck catching fire.
Rescue and safety crews arrived quickly and extinguished the fire before they engulfed the Front Row Motorsports vehicle but unfortunately for the crew, the truck was towed off the circuit with significant damage. Driver Smith was quick to apologise for the “hectic” fire in victory lane.
“Besides catching on fire in Victory Lane – that’s a first for me,” said Smith. “Man, that’s a bummer right there. Shoutout to my team for an amazing strategy that worked out with that caution.
“Putting Kyle back (in the field) and us starting on the front row was just perfect. This truck was fast when it mattered. I enjoy coming to all the road courses and especially here.
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“That was probably the most hectic Victory Lane celebration I’ve ever had. I apologise for catching the truck on fire in Victory Lane.”
Zane Smith apologised to his team after the truck suffered damage as a result of the fire (NascarFox)Veteran Kyle Busch came home in second, coming up short in chasing Smith down. The 37-year-old made up seven spots in one lap and moved into second on Lap 36 but couldn’t clinch first from the driver 14 years his junior. Smith crossed the finish line just 5.451 seconds ahead of the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Busch. The win was Smith’s second of the 2023 season and the ninth of his NASCAR career.
Pit strategy appears to have been Busch’s downfall in Texas. The No51, driving a Motorsports Chevrolet, was called into the pits two laps and a caution flag after Smith made his final stop. “Played the long game and unfortunately the long game didn’t work, they got lucky and beat us,” Busch said.
Ty Majeski finished third, Tyler Ankrum was fourth and Ross Chastain completed the top-five. Corey Heim, Nick Sanchez, Tanner Gray, Kaz Grala and Ben Rhodes completed the rest of the top-ten.