Timmy Hill safely escaped a vehicle fire during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
The fire occurred between Stage 3 and Stage 4 of the 600-mile race, forcing Hill to pit immediately.
Hill exited the burning No. 66 Garage 66 Ford without assistance and was evaluated at the NASCAR infield care center.
Fire Caused by Rubber Buildup
The fire was caused by heavy rocker panel rubber buildup on the car.
The incident disrupted a major event for the underfunded Garage 66 team, formerly known as MBM Motorsports.
Pinnacle Mortgage Corporation served as the primary sponsor for the entry during the Memorial Day weekend event.
"Pinnacle Mortgage Corporation is honored to be part of this extraordinary event," said Kurt W. Strandson, President & CEO of Pinnacle Mortgage Corporation.
Strandson noted that the sponsorship offered a meaningful opportunity to support racing development.
"Sponsoring the No. 66 car during Memorial Day weekend gives us the opportunity to celebrate the spirit of perseverance, teamwork, and patriotism while paying tribute to America’s fallen heroes and veterans," Strandson said.
Team co-owner Carl Long had expressed confidence in their short-track setup and mechanical preparations prior to the event.
"Some of our best runs at Charlotte have come with Timmy behind the wheel," Long said.
Long explained that the organization had spent considerable time adapting to updated technical guidelines for the 2026 season.
"We had a very stable car last year, so we should have a good starting point for our setup.
This is our first race with the all-new electrical system mandated by NASCAR, so we are working hard to make sure we have no issues with it rolling into the weekend," Long said.
Hill is one of four drivers to pilot the open No. 66 entry in 2026, alongside Josh Bilicki, Chad Finchum, and Casey Mears.
Garage 66 bypassed the exhibition All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway to focus resources on the Coca-Cola 600.
The team has announced plans to run at least six more Cup Series events later this season, including stops at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Richmond Raceway, Darlington Raceway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte, and Talladega Superspeedway.
