NASCAR has announced a Trackhouse Racing NASCAR penalty after Ross Chastain’s No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 lost its right-rear wheel during the Cup Series event at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. The incident led to personnel suspensions and stands as the only penalty following a review of recent NASCAR race weekends.
Wheel Incident Involving Chastain Sparks Late-Race Caution
During the Cup Series race at COTA, Ross Chastain, who began near the front and briefly led four laps, triggered a caution when his car slid off course between Turns 19 and 20. As he re-entered the circuit, the right-rear wheel detached from his vehicle. This setback relegated him to finish 35th out of the 37 cars competing in the field.
Suspensions Announced for Trackhouse Racing Crew Members
The separation of the loose wheel resulted in disciplinary action, as NASCAR suspended Kenneth Pozega, the rear-tire changer, and Josh Appleby, the jackman for Chastain’s team. Both will miss the next two scheduled Cup events. Their penalties are based on Sections 8.8.10.4.A and D of the NASCAR rule book, which address incidents of tire or wheel separation due to improper installation during races.
No Additional Penalties Across NASCAR Series
Other teams in the Cup Series, along with those participating in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series event at COTA and the inaugural Craftsman Truck Series race at St. Petersburg, did not receive any further penalties based on the weekend’s inspections and incidents. No rule infractions were found outside of the Trackhouse Racing issue.
Upcoming Schedules for NASCAR Series
Looking forward, the Craftsman Truck Series will take a two-week pause before resuming at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina for the Buckle Up South Carolina 200, scheduled on March 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Audiences can catch the action broadcast on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network, and SiriusXM.
The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series is set to restart racing on March 7 with the GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. This event will be televised nationally on the CW Network, as well as covered on MRN and SiriusXM. The NASCAR Cup Series will also compete that weekend with the Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix, airing on March 8 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM, and HBO MAX.
NASCAR Rule Enforcement and Significance for Teams
The Trackhouse Racing NASCAR penalty underscores how closely the organization watches technical compliance, especially in wheel installation—a critical aspect of race safety and performance. For crew members Kenneth Pozega and Josh Appleby, missing two Cup races carries both short-term consequences for the team and a strong reminder for all pit crews about adherence to regulations. As the season moves forward, other teams will likely take additional precautions to prevent similar mishaps, potentially increasing the focus on pit stop procedures and pre-race safety checks.
