A significant miscommunication in the closing laps of the recent race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has led to consequential changes for Kaulig Racing, as spotter Joe White was dismissed following the William Byron Vegas crash incident. The aftermath of the crash not only ended William Byron’s hopes for a championship run but also reshaped key positions within the Kaulig Racing team.
Kaulig Racing Responds to Las Vegas Crash and Dismisses Joe White
During the Las Vegas Motor Speedway event, miscommunication between race teams led to a collision that heavily impacted William Byron’s title chase. With just 32 laps remaining, Byron, running in second place, collided with Ty Dillon’s car as Dillon entered pit road unexpectedly. The incident forced Byron to retire early with a finishing position of 36th, a serious blow in his pursuit of the Championship 4.
Kaulig Racing responded quickly following the incident by terminating Joe White, Dillon’s spotter. Frank Deiny, who previously spotted for AJ Allmendinger, was chosen to take over responsibilities for Dillon, while TJ Bell was shifted to cover for Allmendinger for the rest of the season. This decision followed both NASCAR’s ongoing internal discussions about the mishap and Kaulig’s own assessment of the situation.
Reaction From NASCAR Officials and Communication Concerns
Mike Forde, the managing director of communications for NASCAR, indicated on the NASCAR Hauler Talk podcast that Brad Moran, the series director, intended to meet with the crew chiefs from both teams involved to thoroughly understand what went wrong. Despite these plans, Kaulig Racing moved ahead with their staffing decision, highlighting the urgency and gravity of the fallout from the Las Vegas crash and the William Byron Vegas crash incident.
Joe White Shares His Side on Social Media
Joe White, who had been working as Dillon’s spotter after previously serving in the same capacity for Kaulig’s No. 16 car, announced his dismissal personally on social media. He wrote:
Got to Talladega. Parked the bus, got fired. In an Uber to the airport to go home for the weekend.
— Joe White, Spotter
He elaborated further on his situation, stating:
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
The change not only affects White’s current role but also ended his anticipated transition to a different position within the organization.
Fan Reactions Range From Criticism to Sympathy
The fan response was swift and emotional across social media platforms, with several users expressing both scorn and understanding for the spotter after the high-stakes error. One fan commented pointedly:
They probably thought they told you, like you thought you told the 24 you were pitting.
Another added criticism of Kaulig Racing’s leadership:
Chris Rice said last week was a racing thing with the 24, and he’d put no blame on the 10 car. Guess he needed a scapegoat now.
Some fans laid the responsibility for Byron’s lost title opportunity squarely on White’s shoulders with remarks such as:
Well maybe, just maybe, if you communicated to another spotter that your driver was pitting last weekend you’d still have a job,
and
Thank god!! You cost Willy B the championship!!
Nevertheless, amid the criticism, a few fans offered support and recognized the intense pressure on spotters in playoff-contending scenarios:
You never want to see someone lose their job. Last weekend was a MASSIVE mistake on someone’s part. I wasn’t there so I won’t say it was you, but communication fell apart somewhere and a major playoff driver got caught up in it. Heads were going to roll. I’m sorry it was you. I hope you find something else very soon.
This illustrates the emotional divide within the fan base following Kaulig Racing’s decision and the consequences stemming from a high-profile error at a critical point in the season.
What Comes Next for Byron, Dillon, and Kaulig Racing
William Byron now enters the Talladega race trailing by 15 points, heightening the challenge of securing a place in the Championship 4 after the fateful William Byron Vegas crash incident. With Byron’s opportunity for a championship now made more difficult, every decision and result in the next races takes on even greater weight.
Ty Dillon, positioned 32nd in the standings with a single top-10 finish in the season, faces his own test to finish the year with renewed credibility. Kaulig Racing has reshaped its spotter lineup, aiming to stabilize communication and avoid similar mistakes in the remaining races.
As the NASCAR season nears its conclusion, the lasting impact of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway crash is set to reverberate through the teams and the sport, shaping both the dynamic within Kaulig Racing and the outcome of Byron’s and Dillon’s campaigns.
Got to Talladega. Parked the bus, got fired. In an uber to the airport to go home for the weekend.
— Joe White (@White_Joe47) October 15, 2025
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
