There was a frightening scene during this weekend’s NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway when Ryan Preece’s car erupted in flames on Lap 2.
Preece’s automobile suffered significant damage in an accident, but it burst into flames when it hit a wall. Preece and all others engaged in the event were able to exit the vehicle unharmed.
However, the source of the blaze remains unknown, and NASCAR Vice President of Racing Communications Mike Forde wants to get to the bottom of it. Forde told Hauler Talk that the operating theory is that a pipe to the fuel cell was cut, but it’s too early to draw any conclusions.
“It was the start of the race, and normally it wouldn’t be as full,” Forde explained. “And as a result, a lot more fuel leaked into or was exposed to the entire back region, causing the bumper foam, the wrap, and other combustible items to ignite.
We’re in the early stages of any possible remedies here, and they’re discussing how to safeguard that hose a little more. I don’t believe we’ve seen anything like this before, but there are some lessons to be learned from it.
Preece in 2026
Preece is having his best season yet, but he has yet to get that long-sought first Cup Series victory. Since Atlanta, he has placed in the top-18 in every race and is presently ranked 13th in the Cup Series. With only a few months until the Cup Series Chase, he is on pace for his career-best finish.
If he can just locate the checkered flag sometime between now and November 2026, this may be the finest year of his career.
