During the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway, 73-year-old Norm Benning lost control of his No. 6 Chevrolet Silverado when it caught fire due to an engine issue.
In lap 65, the car being driven by Norm Benning was in 32nd position when white smoke started coming out of the truck. After covering a short distance, a fire started beneath and behind it.
“I’ve never been in an explosion like that,” Benning said afterward. “That whole bottom end of the engine must’ve come apart, filled up with fire.”
Safety crews arrived in seconds, dousing the flames before helping Norm Benning to the infield care center. He suffered minor smoke inhalation and some 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.”
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.”
Norm Benning’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Legacy
This marked Benning’s 259th career start in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, an incredible milestone for a man still chasing the dream well into his seventies. The Pennsylvania native, who owns and drives for Norm Benning Racing, first appeared in the NASCAR Cup Series back in 1989, logging four starts that year. He later tried the Xfinity Series in the early 2000s, but it’s in the Truck Series that he’s truly made his mark as NASCAR’s ultimate grinder.
Despite the Talladega fire, Benning’s focus is already on what’s next. “I’ll be at Martinsville next week,” he promised. “I’m just disappointed I lost an engine, that’s all. I got to replace the Zilmour engine now for Daytona. That’s my concern, I’m fine. The engine’s only had two races on them.”
That attitude sums up Norm Benning perfectly, more worried about horsepower than hospital care.
UPDATE: Norm Benning has been treated and released from the infield care center at @TALLADEGA.
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) October 17, 2025
Talladega Race Recap
This warning, prompted by the Benning fire, came with 21 laps to go in the 94-lap race, and compacted the frontier in what had thus far been a messy afternoon.
Gio Ruggieri had his first career win in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Playoff contenders Grant Enfinger and Daniel Hemric did not make it to the finish.
The fire emphasized the safety commitment by NASCAR. The cockpit fire suppression system installed in Norm Benning went off automatically. The safety crews were at the location within seconds, which is evidence that the system is functioning as intended.
These fires are not common, but whenever they occur, they serve as a reminder to all people that such measures are essential.
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