CONCORD, N.C. – A fastener bolt failed on a gas can, leading fuel to spill and ignite in a pit road fire that injured three crew members during last month’s Xfinity race at Richmond International Raceway, Robin Pemberton, NASCAR senior vice president of competition, said Friday.
Pemberton, who made the comment in a meeting with reporters at Charlotte Motor Speedway about safety upgrades officials soon will be mandating, said the bolt was about due for maintenance.
The incident took place during Brendan Gaughan’s pit stop. Fuel spilled and was ignited by a spark. Gaughan’s gas man, Josh Wittman, was hospitalized overnight, and Gaughan’s rear tire changer, Anthony O’Brien, was released from the hospital three days later. Clifford Turner, a member of Eric McClure’s crew who helped extinguish the fire on O’Brien by jumping on him, was treated for inhaling chemical sprayed on O’Brien and released from a hospital that night.
That fire and a smaller one in Ryan Newman’s (…)
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