A competitor headed to a NASCAR regional touring series race in Monroe, WA saw their equipment damaged in a large truck fire.

Friday morning, just before 8:30am, a NASCAR hauler headed for Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, WA caught fire after an axle overheated.  The two-deck race car hauler was being driven by 51-year-old John Wood of Eagle, Idaho.  The fire occurred just North of Baker, OR, and Wood was able to pull into the Baker Valley Rest Area where firefighters responded.

Wood was slated to compete this weekend in a NASCAR Pro West Series Race at Evergreen.  The series, sponsors by K&N Filters, is the old Winston West Series that races at tracks in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Roseburg OR, Stockton CA, Colorado, and others. The name of the series changed years ago after the federal tobacco lawsuit settlement that saw RJ Reynolds (Winston) withdraw as the major sponsor of most of NASCAR's different series, including Winston Cup.

Both cars sustained significant damage, including melting the lexan windshields, and front body panels.   Baker Rural Fire Protection District officials did not list a dollar estimate to the damage, or say if the vehicles were internally burned.

If the damage was confined to the windshield and body panels, and didn't hurt the motor, wiring or other internal parts, the crew can probably replace those parts and the cars can race.   Wood has made all but two races in the series this season with two 13th place finishes as his best marks.  If one of their two cars is less damaged, that car could be the one they use in the race.  Most teams, if they can afford it, have a primary and backup car.

Typical NASCAR two-story hauler- damaged in axle fire
(Oregon State Patrol photo)
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