Kaulig Racing fires spotter Joe White following an incident at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where miscommunication contributed to William Byron‘s costly crash during Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race. The dismissal was confirmed midweek, adding further pressure as teams head to Talladega Superspeedway.
Immediate Aftermath of the Las Vegas Incident
Joe White announced on Wednesday via social media that Kaulig Racing had terminated him, a move since confirmed by a team official to NBC Sports. His firing came days after a collision involving William Byron and a Kaulig Racing driver, Dillon, which unfolded late into the Las Vegas Cup race. Byron, holding second place with 32 laps remaining, collided with Dillon’s car after Dillon unexpectedly slowed to pit—a situation Byron later attributed to a lack of communication.
Byron’s hopes for advancing in the NASCAR playoffs took a major hit after the crash; he finished 36th at Las Vegas. The incident leaves Byron, this season‘s regular champion, sitting 15 points below the crucial cutoff for Championship 4 as the teams prepare for Talladega Superspeedway this weekend.
Spotter Roles and Miscommunication Questions
After the incident, William Byron explained the confusion that led to the crash, saying,
I never saw him (Dillon) wave,
— William Byron, NASCAR Driver. He further elaborated,
I was watching him thinking – okay, he missed the bottom a little bit here. He just started slowing and I had no idea what was going on. I’m just devastated. I had no indication. Obviously, I wouldn’t have just driven full-speed into the back of him like that.
— William Byron, NASCAR Driver. Byron noted that there had been no warning about Dillon’s pit intentions and that standard procedures were followed in an otherwise chaotic race environment.
NASCAR’s managing director of communications, Mike Forde, confirmed the series is investigating communication breakdowns related to the crash. On the NASCAR Hauler Talk podcast, he stated,
We do need to get some answers,
— Mike Forde, NASCAR Managing Director of Communications. Brad Moran, NASCAR’s managing series director, is scheduled to meet with both involved crews’ chiefs to review what went wrong and whether protocols were followed.
Changes to the Kaulig Racing Spotter Lineup
Joe White’s position with Kaulig Racing had already been under review prior to this latest race. White posted on social media,
Also to be clear, it was already determined that I would not be spotting for Ty next year, but that I would still be with Kaulig in some fashion. But not now.— Joe White (@White_Joe47) October 15, 2025
— Joe White, Spotter. His statement underlined that his role was shifting next year, yet the recent firing cuts any ongoing ties for the immediate future.
The team’s updated roster lists Frank Deiny as Dillon’s new spotter. Previously, Deiny had worked as AJ Allmendinger’s spotter, while TJ Bell now holds that position for Allmendinger. These official changes were confirmed by Kaulig Racing to NBC Sports, with Dustin Long and Nate Ryan reporting on the team’s decisions.
Background and Upcoming Schedule
White’s career at Kaulig Racing began with spotting for the No. 16 car, covering a range of drivers last season, including AJ Allmendinger, Shane van Gisbergen, Derek Kraus, Josh Williams, and Dillon. This season, White was specifically paired with Dillon, but the shifting dynamics and Sunday’s events brought an abrupt end to that partnership.
The next Cup Series race will take place at Talladega, a critical event for drivers like Byron seeking to recover ground in the standings. Pre-race coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. Eastern on NBC and Peacock, ensuring a large audience will be watching how the fallout from Las Vegas impacts the rest of the NASCAR playoffs.
Also to be clear, it was already determined that I would not be spotting for Ty next year, but that I would still be with Kaulig in some fashion. But not now.
— Joe White (@White_Joe47) October 15, 2025
