Marvin Blaney, a 68-year-old drag racer, suffered severe burns and injuries when his 1963 Corvette caught fire during a qualifying run at National Trail Raceway.
Quick-thinking and heroic efforts helped save Blaney, which is one of five “must-read” stories from MLive over the weekend.
Blaney was trapped for over three minutes before a bystander cut the safety strap that held him inside the burning vehicle.
The crash resulted from a backfire while attempting to restart the engine, leading to an explosion that engulfed the cockpit in flames.
Reporter Joey Oliver and multimedia specialist Kaytie Boomer share the full story here.
Here are four other compelling MLive stories to read:
Taliyah Symonette, a 21-year-old born with a congenital heart defect, faced severe health challenges that led to heart failure and withdrawal from college.
After moving to Michigan and being diagnosed in September 2025, she underwent risky surgery at Corewell Health to repair her heart and installed a pacemaker, allowing her to return to normal activities.
Reporter Brian McVicar shares more in this story here.
Dr. Christopher Sudduth and Lindsey Sudduth, a couple from Ann Arbor, hiked Mount Kilimanjaro in January, requiring two months of training and preparation.
They encountered a variety of conditions during their seven-day trek. Upon reaching the summit at 19,340 feet, they celebrated by waving the University of Michigan flag.
Reporter William Diep shares more details in this story here.
Jacqueline Neill was known for her dedication to her sons, Cameron and Michael Kilpatrick.
Neill and her sons died in a shooting at their Grand Rapids home just two weeks after moving in, generating an outpour of grief in the community.
Family and friends came together on Saturday, Feb. 7, for a celebration of life service for Neill and her boys.
Reporter Bradley Massman has the full story here.
A 440-acre tract of land in Wayne County, known as Sibley Prairie, is home to a unique lake plain wet prairie ecosystem that conservation experts deem more valuable than potential development.
The Michigan Land Conservancy has initiated a $6 million fundraising campaign to purchase the property, securing an option to buy by the end of 2026 while having raised $500,000 so far. About $5.5 million remains.
Ecologists emphasize the necessity of preserving this habitat, which is essential for community biodiversity and green space in the Detroit area.
Reporter Sheri McWhirter shares more in this story here.
Brad Massman is a crime reporter for MLive covering cops and courts for West Michigan. He's received first place awards from the Associated Press for best enterprise and investigative reporting as well as best… more
This article was produced with assistance from AI tools and reviewed by MLive.com staff.
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