NASCAR crashes, bursts into flames

NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. was lucky to escape serious injury after his car slammed into a wall and burst into flames at the Texas Motor Speedway on Monday.

Just 12 laps in to the rain-delayed Duck Commander 500 race, Earnhardt Jr.'s Chevrolet caught the edge of the infield grass, blowing out his front left tyre and causing him to swerve across the track and slam into the outer wall.

The collision caused the car to burst into flames, but fortunately Earnhardt Jr. was able to steer it to safety before scrambling out of the burning vehicle.

Debris from the collision did, however, cause significant damage to the car of Earnhardt Jr's team-mate Jimmie Johnson, who received a swift apology after the race, which was won by Team Penske's Joey Logano.