The crew supporting Ross Chastain has been suspended following a dramatic wheel detachment during the NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). This Ross Chastain crew suspension comes after a high-profile incident that sparked the race’s only natural caution and resulted in significant penalties for the Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet team.
Unexpected Turn Ends Strong Start for Chastain at COTA
Ross Chastain began the race from the outside spot on the front row, securing a win in Stage 1 and positioning himself for a promising finish at COTA. However, his momentum faltered in the final laps, when, after a scheduled green-flag pit stop, his car spun suddenly while approaching Turn 19. The vehicle veered into the gravel, shedding its right-rear wheel, which ended up on the track and forced the only non-scheduled caution of the event. Chastain managed to keep his car moving and returned to pit lane, but the lost wheel had already changed the course of his race.
NASCAR Issues Penalties, Crew Suspended for Two Races
In response to the incident, NASCAR held Chastain for a two-lap penalty on pit road, a standard procedure for such infractions. The delay proved crucial, and Chastain crossed the finish line in 35th position, unable to recover the lost laps as the event continued without further cautions.
Following the race, NASCAR announced further consequences by suspending jackman Josh Appleby and rear tire changer Kenneth Pozega from the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet. These suspensions apply not only to the upcoming event at Phoenix Raceway but will also keep both men out of the next race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Loose Wheel Penalties Under Next Gen Car Scrutinized
The Ross Chastain crew suspension is part of NASCAR’s ongoing efforts to ensure safety. Since the introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022, nearly 60 instances of loose wheel penalties have occurred across the series. This episode marks the first time the No. 1 team has faced such disciplinary action from the sanctioning body.
The most recent NASCAR penalty report confirmed that the Chastain incident was the only team infraction for Cup and O’Reilly races at COTA and the Truck Series event at St. Pete, highlighting the severity and uniqueness of the wheel detachment.
Safety and Competitive Implications Moving Forward
The suspensions and penalties underscore NASCAR’s commitment to strict safety regulations, particularly with the modern Next Gen vehicle design. For Chastain’s Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet squad, the absence of key crew members at Phoenix Raceway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway delivers a serious setback. The incident is likely to keep teams vigilant about pit road procedures going forward to avoid costly mistakes and maintain the integrity of competition on major circuits like Circuit of the Americas.
There's been 60 detached wheels in the @NASCAR Cup Series for #NASCAR #NextGen car.
10 of those 60 have been from one team, @JoeGibbsRacing.
The active team that has had gone the longest without a detached wheel? @KauligRacing, last having one detach in the 2023 #DuelatDaytona. pic.twitter.com/njl0qd5Tsz
— Seth Eggert (@SethEggert91) March 3, 2026
