Minute by Minute: Keller's rocky Friday

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Sometimes twists and turns of fate happen in the blink of an eye. For Jason Keller and the No. 57 Albertson's Ford team, their hopes and dreams of a NASCAR Busch Series championship may have gone up in smoke Friday at North Carolina Speedway.

ALSO  Jason Keller announced Friday that he will return behind the wheel of the No. 57 Ford in 2004.  •  Complete story, click here

Here's a minute-by-minute look of what may have been a very costly Friday for Keller:

4:25: Busch Series Happy Hour practice begins

4:30: The yellow flag comes out as Keller's car catches fire.

4:35: The car is towed behind the pit wall, its hood blackened and paint blistered. Keller climbs out and the crew immediately goes to work. One crewman uses a airhose to blow ash and debris from the destroyed air cleaner from the engine area.

"I don't know what happened," Keller said. "It just cut off and caught on fire."

4:40: After a slow walk to the hauler, Keller comes back to watch the work on progress. Actually, he stands a few feet from the car, his hat pulled low over his eyes. He faces away from the work, looking at the cars circling the track.

4:45: The crew yanks out the blackened distributor and begins to assess the damage to the electrical system.

4:50: Keller is sent back to get his helmet while seven crewmen lean into the engine compartment, reconnecting sparkplug wires and oil lines.

4:55: The car is refired while still on the jackstands. Several crewmen attempt to set the timing while Keller begins to prepare to climb back into the car.

5:02: Keller gets back into the No. 57, straps on his helmet and the car is rolled backwards. He heads back out onto the track.

5:05: Keller is back to full speed as he heads down the backstretch.

5:06: The yellow flag comes out as Keller's car slams hard into the wall in the middle of Turn 3.

5:11: The crew runs to the hauler and begins the process of pulling the backup car out. Keller is taken to the infield care center, checked and released.

5:16: Keller's damaged car is brought back to the hauler on the back of a wrecker. There's heavy damage to the entire right side of the car.

"It all happened so fast," Keller said. "An oil line came loose the second time, most definitely connected to the first problem, I'm sure. We were just rushing to get it back out there.

"I kind of knew I was in trouble when there was oil all over."

In the span of less than an hour, Keller's emotions have run the spectrum.

"It's unfortunate," he said. "Some things you have to accept.

"I wanted to yell and scream and lay down on the ground and throw a temper tantrum, but that wouldn't have fixed the problem."