FORT WORTH, Texas – A hauler fire containing the cars and equipment for HScott Motorsports and driver Michael Annett closed Interstate 20 Thursday afternoon.
The incident occurring in Longview, Texas shut down the westbound lanes, near Estes Parkway at Mile Marker 595, about three hours east of Texas Motor Speedway, site of Sunday’s AAA 500.
Michael Dennis Smith, an employee of HScott Motorsport’s No. 46 team was driving the vehicle when it caught fire. He along with a passenger were uninjured. Smith told ABC affiliate KLTV 7 at the scene of the incident the fire was around the back of a race car and did not reach the cab.
In addition to the cars and equipment, the trailer also contained five gallons of fuel for a generator on board. The generator was not running at the time of the incident. Local police said there was no fuel in the cars on the trailer. Both cars were a complete loss.
Officers from the two cities of Longview and Kilgore responded to the scene. Traffic is being detoured to Loop 281, onto Highway 31 and back to Interstate 20.
A spokesperson for HScott Motorsports said the team would issue further details soon.
The cause of the fire in under investigation.
This was the second incident of the week involving a NASCAR hauler. On Wednesday, the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports NASCAR XFINITY Series hauler was involved in a traffic accident in Louisiana.
Driver Will Mallard was not injured nor issued a citation.
The transporter suffered enough damage to warrant a replacement tractor. However, the team does expect to arrive at the track in time for on-track activities on Friday.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
