Smoke gets burned.

Tony Stewart's late race engine failure in Sunday's Samsung/RadioShack 500 left the former Champion with first degree burns on his thigh and elbow but will not stop him from competing next weekend in Phoenix.

The 2002 NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion led Sunday's race in the early stages before falling behind eventual winner Greg Biffle and settling into the lower echelons of the top ten for most of the day.

Racing to preserve his top ten position on lap 297 Stewart suffered a sudden and spectacular engine failure in his #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Home Depot Chevrolet on lap 297. Black smoke, quickly following by licks of flame began spouting from the rear of Stewart's car and, before he could safely bring the machine to a halt, the rear of the machine had been engulfed in flames.

Once stopped, Stewart made a sharp exit and hobbled to the inside wall as fire crews extinguished his burning vehicle. The driver ironically nicknamed 'Smoke' was then taken to the infield medical centre for treatment on two minor burns.

At the conclusion of the event, Stewart's public relations officer Mike Anning said: "Tony has some first degree burns. There is a small burn on the lower back of his right thigh that's about the size of a fist. The other area is on his right elbow. It's about half the size of the one on his thigh, and it's more like a bad sunburn."

Stewart will not miss any seat time as he fights to break back into the top ten in points following Sunday's 31st place result and Anning concluded that no further hospital visits would be necessary.

"Both are minor burns which he'll treat on his own in the coming days," he said.