Screen Shot 2021 08 24 At 4.06.17 Pm
(Photo via Andy Hillenburg/Twitter)

Fast Track High Performance Racing saves majority of equipment from transporter fire

www.arcaracing.com August 24, 2021

After competing in the Allen Crowe 100 on the Springfield Mile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, the Fast Track High Performance Racing team transporter caught fire Sunday night near Paducah, Kentucky. But thanks to quick action by transport driver Scott Hale and crew chiefs Dick Doheny and Mike Sroufe, the damage was minimized.

Team owner Andy Hillenburg, the 1995 ARCA Menards Series champion, said the majority of the equipment was saved thanks to the quick actions of Hale, Sroufe and Doheny.

“Dick and Mike were stopped fueling up, and they saw Scott pulling up the exit ramp, and there was some flame coming up off the wheel,” Hillenburg said. “Scott got out and was trying to extinguish the flames on his own, and Dick ran in and had them call 911 to get the fire department on the way before he went over to help Scott.

“Dick got a lot of the equipment out of the way and opened it up to where the fire department could get right at the source of the fire. There were there in just a couple of minutes and were just fantastic.

“We were able to save a big percentage of our stuff thanks to Scott, Dick and Mike’s quick reactions. Dick is a crew chief, a driver, a truck driver, a mechanic, and now he’s helped save most of our equipment. He’s a super hero.”

Hillenburg also credits the fast action from the local fire department.

“They were great,” he said. “They got it under control very quickly, and their response time was incredible. Another five minutes and we could have lost everything. We are going to make sure all of the fire fighters and their families are invited to the race at DuQuoin on September 5 as a way to say thank you.”

Phil Compton, chief of the Kuttawa Fire Department, also credits the quick actions of the Fast Track team members.

“Without the race crew being there, it would have been way, way worse,” Compton said. “They got the liftgate down, and the doors open, and that was a huge help to us. If not for their help, it’s likely we could have been dealing with a total loss.”

While the team hasn’t been able to get all of the equipment back to the shop in North Carolina to assess, Hillenburg believes most will be salvaged.

“The cars and the engines appear to be okay,” he said, “as are about 80 percent of our tools. The things were lost were a lot of the support equipment, things like radios and headsets, wiring harnesses, car covers and tarps.

“We’ve had a lot of people reach out to see how they can help, and it means a lot to us all. We just haven’t been able to really get into it and take a good look to see what we have and what we will need at this point.”

Hillenburg remains upbeat despite the setback.

“I’ve been in a lot worse places than this,” he said. “The main thing is everyone is okay. I have worked myself out of a lot of situations worse than this one, and I will work my way out of this.

“It’s been really amazing to see the response from the race fans all across the country. Their willingness to help has been one of the most touching things I’ve experienced in my career.

“I’d like to ask that anyone who would like to make a donation or a contribution please do so to the Kuttawa Fire Department. They did such a great job. I’d like to do something in return for them.”

Fans wishing to make a donation can send a contribution to: Kuttawa Fire Department; PO Box 400; Kuttawa, Kentucky, 42055.