Portland Turns Perilous as NASCAR Star Escapes What Could’ve Been a Brutal Outcome

The closing moments of Stage 1 at Portland delivered a sight no one expected. As the leaders raced toward the green-and-white checkered flag, Matt DiBenedetto’s No. 99 Viking Motorsports Chevrolet broke from the pack, coasting into the grass just beyond the racing line. Then, in one motion, DiBenedetto scrambled out of the driver’s window, hitting the ground hard before pulling at his left shoe with frantic hands. For a few tense seconds, he sat in the grass, helmet on, body rigid, while the trackside cameras captured everything. Later, he divulged the details of his frantic escape. 

“There was a big fire at my feet,” DiBenedetto explained to The CW. “All of sudden, my feet were getting really hot. I looked down and they’re engulfed in flames. I pulled off and tried to get out really quick and in a hurry, because they were fully on fire. And when I was getting out, one of the laces of my shoes got wrapped around the pedals, so I went to get out and I was actually stuck.

“(My) Feet were directly in the flames and I’m super thankful for these heat shields and all the safety gear that we have in these cars. But they were burning and melting. I prayed on the third attempt getting out for God to get me out of that thing, and thankful I got out on that last try.” Then, DiBenedetto went on to show the burnt remains of his footwear. 

But thankfully, Matty D suffered no burns in the incident. And despite however shaken he may have felt, after a precautionary trip to the infield care center, he returned to the race, finishing 34th. 

While the gripping drama of Matt DiBenedetto’s fiery escape occupied much of the attention at Portland International Raceway, the 2025 Pacific Office Automation 147 NASCAR Xfinity Series race also showcased a thrilling battle for supremacy on this storied circuit.

Matt DiBenedetto’s fiery escape and Connor Zilisch’s victory

Connor Zilisch once again proved why he’s the name everyone is talking about in NASCAR. The 19-year-old, driving the No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, came out on top in a wild 75-lap battle at Portland. He started from the pole and looked untouchable through the first two stages, building big leads. But this track never makes life easy, and late cautions, including an overtime restart with less than ten laps to go, turned what seemed like a runaway win into a nail-biter.

That final restart was chaos. Zilisch had Austin Hill breathing down his neck and even got knocked off rhythm after contact. But instead of folding, he made a gutsy move, cutting through the penalty zone to avoid the chicane and keep his momentum– a completely legal play as the leaders slowed behind him. It was the kind of quick decision that separates good drivers from great ones. The result? His eighth win of the season, and he’s doing this just two weeks removed from collarbone surgery.

When it was all over, Zilisch couldn’t stop smiling. “It hurt, but it hurt so good,” he laughed, proud of how his team delivered yet again. “So proud of this No. 88 team, it’s been such a fun year, and let’s go get ourselves a championship.” With that kind of grit and consistency, there’s little doubt he’s the man to beat for the title, and Portland just gave us another reminder of how unpredictable and thrilling this sport can be.