By Mike Pryson, Crain News Service
DETROIT (Sept. 4, 2013) — Ever wonder what it's like to be in a burning race car?
Ever want to know what was going through Ricky Bobby's mind in the fire scene in the movie "Talladega Nights"?
Well, here's a video of what Dirt Modified car driver Mike Stofflet experienced during a race at the Mahoning Valley Speedway in Lehighton, Pa., on Aug. 23.
The car was involved in what looked like an ordinary rollover accident—the kind that can occur nightly at dirt tracks all over the country. A few seconds into the video, however, things start getting scary. Look left on the video as fuel pours into the cockpit. Moments later, the car is a flaming wreck.
Incredibly, Mr. Stofflet was unhurt. And even more incredibly, his crew cleaned up the car and had him back in action 25 minutes later for the feature race, in which he finished fifth.
(For an ABC TV report and interview with Mr. Stofflet, click here.)
This report appeared on the website of Autoweek magazine, a Detroit-based sister publication of Tire Business.