SPARTA, Ky. -- There were several crashes during the first 100 laps on the resurfaced Kentucky Speedway.
But the most calamitous incident might have occurred just outside the track.
About an hour into the Quaker State 400, a fire erupted in a pickup truck in the Platinum parking lot behind the speedway’s frontstretch grandstands (video above). Another car also was on fire from being adjacent to the truck, which had a large grill in its flatbed.
Track spokesman Tim Bray said the fire started in the passenger compartment of the pickup truck and spread to the second vehicle. A third vehicle was singed. No one was injured.
Lexington Herald-Leader sports columnist Mark Story went to the scene and talked to track president Mark Simendinger.
Ky Speedway GM Mark Simendinger says fire started in cabin of white pick up truck w person inside. Person was pulled out by track responders
— Mark Story (@markcstory) July 10, 2016
Simendinger says he believes person pulled from truck did not suffer serious injuries
— Mark Story (@markcstory) July 10, 2016
Simendinger: 'I always tell our people be prepared, something weird will happen. But we never envisioned this'
— Mark Story (@markcstory) July 10, 2016
The burnt truck pic.twitter.com/CKdgq2F8WT
— Mark Story (@markcstory) July 10, 2016