The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway delivered all the drama fans expect from the “Tricky Triangle”—but it was a pit road incident, not a pass for the lead, that left the garage buzzing. During a routine stop for Shane van Gisbergen’s No. 88 car, rear tire changer JP Kealey was struck by a flying tire dislodged in a pit lane melee involving AJ Allmendinger. Though knocked down, Kealey got up and finished the stop, earning praise—and concern—from the NASCAR community.
Key Highlights
JP Kealey was hit by a flying tire during a pit stop for the No. 88 car at Pocono.
The impact knocked him to the ground and jammed a wheel gun into his chest.
Despite the injury, Kealey finished the stop before being evaluated.
The tire came from AJ Allmendinger’s pit area—Kealey had worked with his crew in the past.
SVG’s tough race day made the pit stop even more chaotic; he eventually finished 31st.
The Pit Road Incident That Shocked Viewers
As Shane van Gisbergen’s No. 88 Chevrolet pulled in for service midway through Sunday’s race, a loose tire rocketed toward the crew. The 50-pound object collided directly with JP Kealey, slamming into his chest with enough force to knock him to the asphalt. Complicating the impact, Kealey’s 10-pound wheel gun was caught between the flying tire and his torso, adding to the trauma.
Remarkably, Kealey got up. Adrenaline surging, he continued the stop and ensured the car left the pit box on time. But insiders say he’s likely to need recovery time, both for physical bruising and internal soreness. While no formal injury report has been released, the NASCAR community responded swiftly with praise for his toughness and calls for further pit road safety review.
Not only did an object as heavy as a large piece of luggage hit JP at speed but the tire also jammed his ten pound wheel gun into his chest as it hit him so while adrenaline might have pushed him through to finish the pit stop, he'll probably need some time to recover. pic.twitter.com/uWN7YyxfCi
— Bozi Tatarevic (@BoziTatarevic) June 24, 2025
The incident added another layer to a challenging day for Trackhouse Racing’s No. 88 crew and raised questions about the unpredictable dangers that exist even outside the racing line.
Shane Van Gisbergen’s Rough Pocono Debut
Shane van Gisbergen’s Cup Series rookie campaign hit a rough patch at Pocono. From the moment the green flag dropped, the No. 88 struggled with setup and balance. Oversteering into turns and understeering on exit, SVG fought the car from the outset, prompting multiple adjustments from his team.
Matters got worse during Stage 2 when a multi-car wreck involving Kyle Busch and Todd Gilliland led to a chain reaction. Van Gisbergen was clipped by Ty Dillon, sending him into a slide. Though he avoided serious damage, an unscheduled pit stop under closed pit conditions earned him a penalty that dropped him to the tail end of the field.
Late in the race, SVG spun again—this time on his own—after reporting brake trouble. Despite a hard hit and being one lap down, he soldiered on to finish 31st. The pit road chaos with Kealey was just another chapter in what was arguably his most frustrating Cup outing yet.
AJ Allmendinger’s Role: A Familiar Face in an Unintended Collision
The tire that struck JP Kealey wasn’t just a rogue piece of equipment—it was from the pit box of AJ Allmendinger, driver of the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet. In a strange twist of fate, Kealey had previously worked on Allmendinger’s pit crew during his early years, when he was leased to Kaulig in the Cup Series.
Allmendinger’s race itself was largely uneventful. Starting 33rd, he kept the car clean and finished 21st after 160 laps—solidly mid-pack, 25 seconds behind winner Chase Briscoe. But his name entered the spotlight unexpectedly due to the pit lane incident involving his team’s equipment.
While there’s no indication of rule violations or fines, the episode has reignited discussions around pit lane safety, equipment control, and crew member protection.
JP Kealey’s Journey: From Leased Gun to Full-Time Cup Crewman
The story of JP Kealey’s rise is one of persistence and skill. Before joining Trackhouse Racing full-time on the No. 88 team, he was a journeyman—a tire changer leased out to Xfinity and Truck Series teams, and even Cup teams like Kaulig. He earned a reputation for speed, accuracy, and composure under pressure, making him a prime candidate to join SVG’s Cup team in 2025.
His quick reflexes and ability to finish the stop at Pocono despite being struck is a testament to his professionalism. But those who know Kealey say it’s also a reflection of the physical and mental toughness required to work on pit road, where split-second actions carry real consequences.
The aftermath of this incident may lead to more than just a few sore ribs—it could spark changes in how NASCAR approaches crew safety going forward.
News in Brief: Shane van Gisbergen and AJ Allmendinger Accident Links
While Shane van Gisbergen’s misfortune and AJ Allmendinger’s tire contributed to one of Pocono’s wildest moments, it was JP Kealey’s resilience that stole the spotlight. Fans tune in for the drivers and the drama on the track, but moments like these remind us of the hidden dangers faced by the unsung crew members who make every pit stop possible.
Kealey’s pit lane heroics at Pocono highlight the need for continued safety improvements and renewed appreciation for those behind the wall. In a sport known for speed, it’s often grit and guts that define the day—and at Pocono, no one exemplified that better than JP Kealey.
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