In a dramatic turn of events at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, professional racing teams Joe Gibbs Racing and Richard Childress Racing have been hit with crew member suspensions. The unexpected penalties were meted out following detached wheels from the vehicles of renowned racers Chase Briscoe and Kyle Busch.
Briscoe’s race hit a snag when his No. 19 Gibbs Toyota’s left rear wheel detached on the 33rd lap following a round of early pit stops. The incident led to a two-lap penalty during the race for Briscoe. However, displaying his inherent racing prowess, Briscoe managed to overcome the penalty, finishing on the lead lap in the 17th position. In the aftermath of this mishap, his jackman, Caleb Dirks, and rear tire changer, Daniel Smith, have been suspended from participating in the two forthcoming Cup Series races at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Martinsville Speedway.
Adding to the drama was the incident involving Kyle Busch. The right-rear wheel of his No. 8 Childress Chevrolet came loose on lap 113, just as the race was restarting after pit stops. The wheel detachment resulted in Busch hitting the wall, necessitating garage repairs before he could return to the race. This unfortunate event saw Busch finish in the 33rd position. Consequently, his jackman, Dylan Moser, and rear tire changer, Shiloh Windsor, have been suspended for the next two races.
But the penalties didn’t stop there. NASCAR also imposed fines on four Xfinity Series teams for loose lug nuts in the aftermath of Saturday afternoon’s race in Las Vegas. The penalized teams include the No. 11 team from Kaulig Racing, No. 19 team of Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 26 team from Sam Hunt Racing, and the No. 88 team from JR Motorsports. The Craftsman Truck Series team, the No. 07 team from Spire Motorsports, also faced fines for the same infraction.
Adding to the whirlwind of penalties and suspensions, two crew members were indefinitely suspended due to violations of the substance abuse policy. Josiah Wright, the listed rear tire changer for Brad Keselowski, and Corbin Sklener, who has been associated with GK Racing and Mike Harmon Racing, are the individuals facing these severe penalties.
In conclusion, the recent racing events at Las Vegas Motor Speedway have been marred by a series of penalties and suspensions that have shaken up the professional racing landscape. The repercussions of these events will undoubtedly impact the upcoming races, as teams scramble to adapt to the loss of key crew members and fines.