Stating the obvious; the tire had to have picked up that nail within the last couple of rotations prior to your car coming to a stop. Otherwise centrifugal force would almost immediately have launched that puppy into orbit! (I doubt any tire is sticky enough to hold a nail in that position 'at speed'.)
Regardless, it's clear the 'road gods' did take pity on ya!
(Edit: I once parked my hot rod S-10's left-rear BFG "Drag Radial" atop a two foot long 2x6 [to do this and that]. When I jacked up the rear end of the truck the next day - the 2x6 lifted with the tire. 'Couldn't believe my eyes.)