OSWEGO, N.Y. -- A driver at yesterday’s Oswego Speedway event suffered non-life-threatening injuries after his vehicle was engulfed in flames.

Vern LaFave was driving against Dalton Doyle for the win in the 350 supermodified feature Saturday at the speedway. After Doyle edged over the finish line, the vehicles brushed against each other, sending LaFave’s car into the wall. A fire erupted.

Fire crews immediately jumped in to help LaFave, who was pulled to safety and taken to the hospital. Crews were able to extinguish the fire as well.

When LaFave’s vehicle piled into the first turn wall at Oswego Speedway Saturday night and exploded in flames, the 60-year-old driver knew he was in big trouble.

“I could immediately feel the extreme heat and I knew I had to get myself out of there as quick as possible,” said the 40-year racing veteran who is from Philadelphia in Jefferson County.

"I had a problem getting my belts undone, but when I did, I got up through the top of the cage and just fell backwards into the fire surrounding the car. Fortunately, a member of the Oswego safety crew stepped into the fire and dragged me to safety," said LaFave.

The driver was rushed to the Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse for treatment of burns, but it could have been much worse.

“I’ve got second and third degree burns on my hands and arms and I’m scheduled for some skin graft work this Wednesday,” said the driver. "But I was wearing a topline, two-layer firesuit with fireproof underwear. "I had a new Simpson helmet, along with gloves, sox and racing shoes and without that I wouldn’t have made it.

"I've got to give all the praise to the Oswego fire crew. They are the best in the business and they took a real bad situation and did a great job getting things stopped," said Vern.

"I just want to take this time to remind all the young drivers in the area to get the best fire equipment available, because many times it could be a matter of life or death.

I also want to thank Mike Muldoon for building a safe race car. I took a real hard shot into the wall Saturday and the cockpit area never budged," the racer said.

Stacy Brace Pryor shared video of the crash on Facebook. In it, attendees can be heard in dismay about the fire, before cheering when an announcer tells the crowd LaFave was pulled out and was conscious.

The Speedway posted on Twitter thanking attendees for their concern and sharing an update about LaFave’s condition.

--Syracuse.com contributor Dick O’Brien contributed to this report.

The video is below. It contains some explicit language.