NASCAR Driver Austin Dillon Retires from Race After Exposure to High Heat

The NASCAR race in Martinsville turned out to be a race of attrition. As it turns out, poor old Austin Dillon found that out the hard way. The American driver needed help exiting his car after his Chevrolet experienced overheating issues. Apparently, the primary culprit was the crush panels in his car, that sustained damage.

With just a 100 laps left, Dillon was forced to pull over and required assistance in exiting the car. Luckily, he received treatment and was subsequently released from the medical center.

The 30-year old explained that he picked up a puncture at the start of the race. As a result, he dropped to the back of the pack and went two laps down. To make matters worse, Dillon also had to deal with soaring temperatures in the cockpit.

It appeared that the puncture caused the crush panel to get knocked out at the beginning of the race. So, he was forced to cap off a miserable race and retire early. It was a crying shame, since Dillon was confident that he had a good car under him.

How bad did things turn out for Austin Dillon?

In a video message to the fans, Dillon revealed that he ran over some debris, which explained that right rear puncture. He also revealed that he felt really hot in the race car. Dillon tried to soldier on with the help of ice packs, even putting one between his legs. Unfortunately, it melted and burned his buttocks.

He continued, “Coming off Turn 4, I don’t know what happened, I got dizzy or something. I just pulled in and had to stop. I thank all the medical staff that got me back. Now, I feel good, get ready for Homestead. Bummer we got a flat tire, but when we come back, we’re gonna be in tip top shape.”