Kaulig Racing spotter fired headlines the aftermath of last week’s incident between Ty Dillon and William Byron at the Las Vegas race, as Joe White confirms his dismissal from the team. The staff change comes as fan speculation grows over the reasons behind White’s exit and its connection to the ongoing relationship between Kaulig Racing and Hendrick Motorsports.
Joe White Departs Kaulig Racing After Las Vegas Incident
In the wake of a controversial on-track clash involving Ty Dillon and Hendrick Motorsports star William Byron, Ty Dillon’s spotter Joe White has been let go from Kaulig Racing. White publicly acknowledged his dismissal through a post on X, previously known as Twitter. He also stated that he did not plan to continue his spotter duties for Dillon in the upcoming season. While initially expecting to stay at Kaulig in another capacity, that opportunity has also been rescinded following these events.
FOX journalist Bob Pockrass reported on the reshuffling within Kaulig Racing’s spotting crew, noting personnel changes for the team.
“AJ Allmendinger spotter Frank Deiny is now listed as spotter for Ty Dillon … TJ Bell is now listed as spotter for AJ Allmendinger.”
— Bob Pockrass, FOX journalist
The team’s internal decisions have prompted significant debate among fans, particularly on social media, with some suggesting outside influence from Hendrick Motorsports due to their internal partnership with Kaulig Racing. One fan strongly claimed,
“Bet Hendrick got that done 1000%”
— Fan
The change also led to further scrutiny over Kaulig’s lineup, with supporters questioning whether White was being unfairly scapegoated following the crash. Accusations flew that the team chose to blame White for circumstances outside his control, with one fan putting it bluntly,
“So he got fired because Ty Dillon is an idiot that doesn’t know how to put his hand out the window and wave to the drive behind him that he’s pitting?”
— Fan
“Why would you take AJ’s spotter from him and not make Ty take the new guy?”
— Fan
Another perspective focused on the practical challenges of the racing environment.
“I don’t know what did or did not happen on the spotter stand,”
a fan commented.
“But the driver holds the wheel. Dillon was running about 65th, so he shouldn’t have been on the racing line there with 30 to go and the leaders in his mirror.”
— Fan
Some supporters pointed to safety improvements as a critical reason for changing personnel, with one observing,
“Kaulig probably thinks getting a new spotter is safer for everyone than Ty driving with one hand,”
— Fan
Dillon’s Focus Shifts to Talladega Amid NASCAR Shake-Up
Despite the fallout and not advancing to the playoffs, Ty Dillon is now setting his sights on the upcoming YellaWood 500, set for October 19 at the Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. The 188-lap event will be broadcast on USA at 2 p.m. ET, with exclusive radio coverage available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Although Dillon did not secure a spot in this year’s postseason, he remains eligible to secure victories in the remaining scheduled races.
CEO Chris Rice Backs Ty Dillon, Deflects Blame From Driver
Adding to the emotional tension within Kaulig Racing, Chief Executive Officer Chris Rice publicly exonerated Ty Dillon for the on-track incident, explaining that incidents like this are part of the sport’s unpredictable nature.
“I hate placing blame on somebody that was actually just running his own race,”
Rice said of Ty Dillon in a recent statement. I don’t feel like they were in the wrong.” — Chris Rice, Kaulig Racing CEO
Rice elaborated that, under racing conditions, visual signals from drivers may not be effectively communicated to others on track.
“You would have never seen his hand out the window. I don’t care, he could have had his hand all the way out the window. You’re not going to see it, they sit too far back in the racecar. You can’t see out of those cars anyway,”
he added. — Chris Rice, Kaulig Racing CEO
NASCAR has already acknowledged the severity of the incident, announcing an impending review. However, as of now, no updates or final statements have been released by the sanctioning body regarding possible penalties or further action.
Ongoing Tensions and Next Steps for Kaulig Racing
The firing of Joe White as Kaulig Racing spotter has intensified scrutiny of team management and its alliances, strengthening the perception among frustrated fans that decisions may be driven by factors beyond race-day strategy. With Ty Dillon preparing for Talladega and Kaulig Racing continuing personnel adjustments, attention now turns to how the team will manage both its competitive ambitions and internal dynamics for the remainder of the NASCAR season.
Bet Hendrick got that done
1000%— Cowboy Racer (@DCNC70) October 15, 2025
He's the escape goat.
— Shannon Aultman (@ShannonAultman) October 15, 2025
So he got fired because Ty Dillon is an idiot that doesn't know how to put his hand out the window and wave to the drive behind him that he's pitting? pic.twitter.com/GUoGLUJIBy
— Saint Saved By Grace (@Freed_Saint) October 15, 2025
Why would you take AJ’s spotter from him and not make Ty take the new guy?
— 🇺🇸 Family Man (Dave) 🇺🇸 (@TeamKFBfan8) October 15, 2025
I don't know what did or did not happen on the spotter stand. But the driver holds the wheel. Dillon was running about 65th, so he shouldn't have been on the racing line there with 30 to go and the leaders in his mirror.
— Ron DiBiase (@rtd328) October 15, 2025
Kaulig probably thinks getting a new spotter is safer for everyone than Ty driving with one hand. 😂
— Mick Rose 🇺🇸 (@GoDucks5_Mick) October 15, 2025
