Diesel mix-up at Wake Forest Speedway leaves dozens with damaged cars

A routine fill-up at the Speedway at Capital Boulevard and Wall Road in Wake Forest turned into a costly breakdown for dozens of drivers after diesel was mistakenly delivered into the underground tank meant for regular gasoline. Brenda Small said she and 23 other motorists were affected, and she had been in a rental car for the week after her own vehicle was disabled. Speedway said it would cover towing and repair costs tied to the contamination, but Small said the company had not agreed to reimburse her rental car or other transportation costs.

North Carolina regulators say contamination complaints like this are squarely in the Fuel Quality Program’s lane. The program investigates more than 200 consumer complaints a year, and inspectors can test fuel on-site, collect samples from dispensers and storage tanks, review delivery and maintenance records, and stop sales with a Notice of Violation if the fuel fails quality standards. The state also says these inspections and testing are free, and that complaints can be filed by phone at 984-236-4770 or online with details such as the fuel type, purchase time, pump number, gasoline grade, whether station staff were notified, and whether a mechanic looked at the car.

For drivers trying to get made whole, documentation matters. Shell’s claims guidance says to keep the fuel purchase receipt, towing receipt, repair receipt and diagnostics, along with any other receipt tied to the contamination claim. North Carolina’s Department of Insurance says auto policies are built from several coverages, some optional, and drivers should review their policy or call 855-408-1212 to understand what applies. Comprehensive coverage may be the starting point for damage that was not caused by a crash, but State Farm says many policies do not cover damage from misfuelling, so contaminated-fuel losses are not automatic claims. Rental-car reimbursement, if a driver has it, can help pay for a temporary replacement while the vehicle is being repaired.

The bills can add up quickly. A local tow often runs into the low hundreds of dollars, rental cars commonly cost about $50 to $80 a day, and fuel-system repairs can climb from a basic drain-and-clean job into the hundreds or even more than $4,000 if injectors need replacement. If the contaminated fuel was started in the car, mechanics may have to flush the fuel line or replace parts, which can keep a driver out of the vehicle for days or longer while the station, insurer and state inspectors sort out responsibility.