Fire sends three pit crew members to hospital

Three race-team crew members were transported to a hospital after flames shot across two pit areas during the NASCAR Xfinity race on Friday night at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va.

Two of the crewmen were in Brendan Gaughan’s pit and one was in Eric McClure’s pit.

The injured were identified as Anthony O’Brien, Gaughan’s rear tire changer, Gaughan fueler Josh Wittman and McClure crew member Clifford Turner. McClure’s team said Turner was treated and released.

No information was immediately available on the extent of the injuries or the conditions of Gaughan’s crew workers.

A fireball erupted from underneath Gaughan’s car while his crew was disengaging the fuel can during a pit stop about midway through the race. The crewmen were engulfed in flames momentarily before the fire was extinguished in a scary scene.

Shane Wilson, Gaughan’s crew chief, said the fire was the result of a malfunction on the top of the gas can that kept the nozzle from sealing.
Gaughan remained in the race and finished 11th.