Shortest Career in NASCAR: A Truck Series Driver’s Three-Minute Legacy
In the high-octane world of NASCAR, where careers span decades, one driver's journey ended almost as soon as it began. This is the tale of a fleeting NASCAR career that lasted just three minutes.
Billy Keyes, a promising driver for BnB Racing, made his NASCAR debut in 2011. But fate had other plans. His first race ended abruptly, making his NASCAR career the shortest on record.
The Ill-Fated Lap
During a practice session at Martinsville, disaster struck. Keyes' truck collided with the inside wall on his very first lap, taking another truck down with it. The wreckage was so severe that both trucks were beyond repair.
The Aftermath
With no backup truck, the team had to withdraw. Keyes' NASCAR dream was over. Reflecting on the incident, Keyes said, "This weekend was a big one. If we did well, we’d be able to run more races. I’m frustrated. We worked so hard countless nights, all my family pitching in to help. Nobody wrecks in practice, that happens in the race but it happened to us." He returned to late-model circuit racing, leaving behind a three-minute legacy in NASCAR.