Remembering scary fire at RIR that led to pit-road safety rule changes
One of the scariest moments in recent NASCAR history occurred last year at Richmond International Raceway, the track that hosts this weekend's Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series races.
In last year's ToyotaCare 250 XFINITY race at RIR, there was a massive pit fire that injured three crewmen, fortunately none of them seriously.
After a caution on Lap 108 of the 250-lap race, Brendan Gaughan pitted, when his No. 62 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet burst into flames and was instantly engulfed in a huge fireball. Rear-tire changer Anthony O'Brien was changing the right-rear tire when the flames burst out all around him.
O'Brien and two other crewmembers, RCR fueler Josh Wittman and Clifford Turner of Eric McClure's team, were also treated for minor injuries. But it could have been so much worse.
Several weeks after the accident, NASCAR updated its pit-road safety rules, requiring all over-the-wall crew members to wear fire-retardant gloves, underwear, head socks and socks.
