NASCAR star expresses relief after DANGEROUS Cup Series incident

NASCAR Cup Series driver Daniel Suarez has expressed his relief after he and his team avoided injury following a dangerous incident at Bristol Motor Speedway.

John Hunter Nemechek’s pit crew failed to attach his tire properly during his trip down pit road in Sunday’s race, with the wheel hurtling down the pit road unattached as a result.

The wheel found itself heading towards Suarez’s pit box, where his own crew were working on his car, and the 50+ lbs tire slammed into the rear bumper, narrowly avoiding one of Suarez's men.

Thankfully, the incident did not result in a serious injury, with the gas man only avoiding harm as the tire hit his gas instead of his body.

Will Nemechek’s team be penalised by NASCAR?

Suarez took to social media after the race to show what the incident looked like from a birds-eye view of the pit box, and expressed his relief that nobody was injured.

“After a race like today’s, this video puts everything into perspective! So glad none of my guys got hurt by that tire, especially Seth and Milan,” Suarez wrote on X.

Although no official penalty has been announced yet for Nemechek’s pit crew, it is somewhat surprising given NASCAR has increasingly clamped down on loose wheels or lug nuts, with fines and even race bans for some pit crew team members in recent weeks.

For example, Shane Van Gisbergen’s rear-tire changer and the jackman were suspended for two races each, after a right-rear tire on the No. 88 car came loose.

READ MORE: 323-race NASCAR Cup Series star announces divorce from wife

READ MORE: Team owner with NASCAR connection pleads guilty in $40 million fraud case

Related

NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR slammed for 'horrible decisions' as Denny Hamlin warns series they will pay

• August 14, 2025 14:00

NASCAR Today

NASCAR Today: Star hit with huge playoff blow as driver set to miss Richmond race

• August 14, 2025 12:00