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Brent Crews' No. 18 car catches fire after violent hit into the wall at Dover

JHby: Jonathan Howard07/18/25Jondean25
Brent Crews ARCA Dover hit
Screenshot credit: NASCAR on FOX via X.com

A terrifying moment for Brent Crews as his No. 18 Toyota Camry burst into flames after losing a right front tire and hitting the wall. Crews, 17, took a violent hit into the outside wall, and soon his race car was on fire. This ARCA Menards Series race at Dover is under a red flag.

In perhaps the biggest hit in his young career, Brent Crews had a great car. It looked like we were going to get a showdown between him and Butterbean Queen once again. Then, he was in the wall and his car was engulfed in flames.

Thankfully, Crews was able to get out of the car on his own. He was also released from the care center at Dover. A short red flag to clean up the track after this incident.

Brent Crews is a great young driver. He has made starts in the ARCA Menards Series this year and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. It would be shocking if Crews wasn’t full-time in the Truck or Xfinity Series next year. As a prospect, he could be on that Connor Zilisch level

Dover is not an easy track to race on. It is challenging and tests not only the driver, but the limits of the car.

Earlier this season, Crews won the ARCA race at Phoenix. He’s won on both of the dirt tracks on the ARCA schedule. He also won the ARCA East race at Rockingham this season. The talent is there.

No Brent Crews, Butterbean Queen battle

We aren’t going to get the Phoenix repeat today, folks. Brent Crews won that race out west when he used an overtime restart to put the door to Butterbean and steal the win. It was nothing egregious, but the message was sent. Crews is willing to do whatever to win.

Camden Murphy has risen to the challenge. Racing for Nitro Motorsports, Murphy looks like he knows this track better than the rest of the field. However, the speed and talent of Butterbean Queen have been enough to keep him out front for the time being.

Butterbean has three wins this season. He’s won at Daytona, Kansas, and Michigan. The short track racer hasn’t had the best luck on the short tracks this season. However, he could pick up a win at the high-banked one-miler of Dover.

Butterbean is trying to push his point lead out further. He is ahead of Lawless Alan by only 9 points despite his wins. He’s on a streak of four straight top-five finishes, and it appears he’s going to add another barring a massive error or mistake on his part.