Two crew members from the Trackhouse Racing No. 1 team of Ross Chastain are suspended for the next two races after a wheel came off the car at Circuit of the Americas in the NASCAR Cup Series race.
Kenneth Pozega, the rear-tire changer, and Josh Appleby, the jackman, will not serve on the pit crew at Phoenix Raceway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway due to the infraction.
The detached wheel references Sections 8.8.10.4 A&D in the NASCAR Rule Book, part of which says a “lost tire beyond pit road will result in [a] two race suspension for two pit crew members [and] a two-lap penalty.”
Chastain won stage one and was running about 13th after a pit stop when the wheel came off on lap 75. He was held for two laps on pit road.
Chastain ultimately finished 35th.
Joy joined Frontstretch in 2019 as a NASCAR DraftKings writer, expanding to news and iRacing coverage in 2020. She's currently an assistant editor and involved with photos, social media and news editing. A California native, Joy was raised watching motorsports and started watching NASCAR extensively in 2001. She earned her B.A. degree in Liberal Studies at California State University Bakersfield in 2010.
I’ve never understood this rule. If a wheel comes off, 2 crew members are suspended. So the first string people are suspended and the second string are called up. You know, the least experienced people. Remember, it’s all about safety!!