NASCAR driver narrowly avoids still-burning firework

NASCAR driver Austin Dillon was lucky to escape serious injury when a still-burning firework missed him by the barest of margins in a pre-race show in the US.

The 25-year-old Dillon was preparing for the Drive for the Cure 300 Xfinity Series race at the Charlotte Motorway Speedway when a fireworks display lit up the night sky.

But instead of exploding high above the crowd and drivers, one projectile fell back to earth still sparking with intense heat.

And with radar precision, the firework picked out Dillon amongst the packed field, landing close enough to the Richard Childress Racing driver to force him to jump for safety.

Clearly unshaken by the scare, he later went on to win the race a few hours ago.