SPARTA, Ky. — For the second time this week, a car has left the racing surface and gone into the catchfence at a NASCAR race.

Ben Kennedy went up in the air and into the fence in Turn 1 with five laps to go in Thursday night’s Camping World Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway, causing the race to be shortened. Matt Crafton was declared the winner.

Kennedy seemed shaken by the incident but walked away from the crash and no fans were injured.

“I guess I was on top of the wall,” Kennedy said. “I remember being up on the wall for quite some time. I didn’t really see much. I just saw a bunch of dust and debris flying. I came down – and the ride from the wall to the ground was pretty hard. But I’m OK.

“Thank God for everything NASCAR has done to keep this sport safe. For me to get out of my car under my own power after a hit like that is pretty incredible.”

VIDEO: Watch Ben Kennedy’s wild ride at Kentucky

The crash occurred just three days after Austin Dillon’s harrowing incident at Daytona International Speedway, in which his car was sent flipping into the catchfence on the final lap. On Thursday, Kennedy’s truck was spun, hit a wall with no SAFER barrier protection, then flipped up onto the wall and into the fencing at Kentucky’s 1.5-mile layout.

The crash tore a hole in the fence and damaged two of the heavy poles that hold up the catchfence – designed to keep cars and debris on the track and protect fans. NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said it would have taken crews anywhere from 90 minutes to two hours to replace the poles; the fence will be ready in time for Friday morning’s practice session.

Kentucky Speedway general manager Mark Simendinger said no debris went through the fence.

There were no fans sitting in the immediate area where debris and sparks from Kennedy’s truck spewed.

The accident was a surprise because such incidents are extremely rare at tracks other than Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway, where cars travel in packs due to restrictor plates and reach speeds of 200 mph or more.

At 1.5-mile intermediate tracks like Kentucky, cars getting airborne — let alone high enough to get in the fence — is extremely rare. The odds of two fence incidents at two different tracks in the same week are likely astronomical.

Kennedy is a member of NASCAR’s founding France family. He is the great-grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and the son of International Speedway Corp. CEO Lesa France Kennedy.

Kennedy, who was traveling at least 160 mph at the time of the incident, was checked and released from the infield care center.

Kennedy said he thought he was clear to move up in front of David Gilliland’s No. 92 truck, but ended up getting hooked across Gilliland’s nose. That turned his truck sideways and he was then hit in the door by John Wes Townley, which sent Kennedy’s truck climbing up the wall and into the fence.

The 23-year-old said the crash scared him because “you don’t really know what’s going on; you don’t know what to expect.”

“I don’t know,” he said, voice wavering. “I just remember hitting the wall and being along for a wild ride. You don’t know if anyone is going to hit you or what’s going to happen.”

Moments after Kennedy was released from the infield care center, Dillon (who was not in the race) showed up to check on him. After Kennedy answered questions in a TV interview, the two chatted for about 30 seconds.

“That’s crazy,” Dillon said to no one in particular. “Two in one week.”

But it’s happened. Both incidents involved drivers who come from NASCAR families (Dillon is the grandson of six-time champion car owner Richard Childress).

Kennedy is a 2014 University of Florida graduate, where he earned a degree in sports management. His uncle is Brian France — NASCAR’s chairman and CEO. Some in the racing industry believe Kennedy could go into the family business some day when he’s done with his racing career.

This is Kennedy’s second full season in Trucks. He has 12 career top-10 finishes and one pole position in 37 races.

“It’s a perfect storm, really,” race winner Crafton said of the two fence incidents. “We’re going fast. Stuff does happen. It was really good to see Ben got out and walked out under his own power.”

Simendinger said the fence would be good as new by Friday morning. There is an Xfinity Series race scheduled for Friday night and a Sprint Cup race Saturday night. Practices and qualifiying also will take place over the next two days.

The track stores extra poles, cables and mesh on property in case such an incident occurs, Simendinger said.

“I don’t think it’s really a matter of cost,” he said. “What we’re grateful for is all the safety measures worked and…that Ben is OK.”

Follow Gluck on Twitter @jeff_gluck

PHOTOS: Ben Kennedy’s Truck crash at Kentucky Speedway