DRIVING ON US 85 NORTH AT MILE MARKER 82 IN NC AT 6:00 PM. ENGINE STARTS MISFIRING THEN WITHIN A FEW SECONDS RACING AND LOSS OF BRAKE POWER. PULL OVER TO SHOULDER IMMEDIATELY AND TURN OFF CAR. OPEN HOOD AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER ENGINE COVER AND EMBERS VISIBLE. CAR TOWED FOR 96 MILES TO AUTO PRO-TO-CALL IN CHAPEL HILL, NC. THE FOLLOWING MORNING (12/17/2007) TECHNICIAN REMOVED COVER AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A FIRE UNDER THE COVER WITH VERY EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. *TR