Another week, another horror pit stop by a team, and yes, another cruel sanction by NASCAR. This seems to be becoming the minor story of the season, as crew chiefs are being handed race suspensions so frequently.
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This time around, it was Justin Haley’s crew chief, Trent Owens alongside two other crew members who faced the wrath for not being able to adapt to the speed of light.
Journalist Bob Pockrass reported, “For the wheel coming off the Justin Haley car at Kansas, Kaulig crew chief Trent Owens and two crew members have been issued four-race suspensions (All-Star, Charlotte, Gateway, Sonoma). This is the second time this season Owens/this team has had this penalty.”
For the wheel coming off the Justin Haley car at Kansas, Kaulig crew chief Trent Owens and two crew members have been issued four-race suspensions (All-Star, Charlotte, Gateway, Sonoma). This is the second time this season Owens/this team has had this penalty.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 17, 2022
Naturally, this led to a big uproar amongst the fans, who criticized NASCAR for doing what they are doing and not taking any understandable factors into consideration whatsoever.
I wonder what it's gonna take for nascar to make some kind of change with the wheels…will it take a spectator or worker at the track to get hurt or killed? I remember new Hampshire 2007 June race joe nemecheck lost wheel and it almost went over fence right infront of me. Scary!
— Andrew Patrick Demoranville (@AndrewPD93) May 17, 2022
NASCAR over penalizes teams for a wheel coming off, but NASCAR gives nothing to the teams because they ignorantly designed a car that won’t roll with a flat tire most of the time and when it will roll, it tears the fender apart a lot. Typical NASCAR.
— Scott (@Bamaederds) May 18, 2022
Go back to lug nuts. It’s stock car racing. How many stock cars have 1 lug nut?
— Bill Alvarez (@1big6fan) May 17, 2022
Does NASCAR think they're doing this on purpose? Losing a wheel IS the penalty, sitting them for 4 races is not the fix!! #ChangeThis
— Family Man (@TeamJGRfan) May 17, 2022
I would hope @NASCAR will go back to the drawing board on these tires … teams keep losing them, 43 team can't get theirs off …
— ceegee1420 (@ceegee1420) May 17, 2022
Owens/crew members now would have missed 8 races total. Ouch.
— Mike 🇵🇷 🇺🇸 🚀 (@mike_h1990) May 17, 2022
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That’s BS
— 🇺🇸 Todd Smith 🇺🇸 (@FOUR10s) May 17, 2022
Bubba Wallace had also criticized NASCAR for the frequent sanctions
No other top driver this season has suffered as much with results because of pit stop mishaps as Bubba Wallace has. On top of that, after every such mishap, his crew chief and crew members have also been penalized.
So naturally, he didn’t hold back against the sanctions and especially the duration of them.
USA Today via Reuters
Apr 24, 2022; Talladega, Alabama, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) pits for service during the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
“Last year with the five lug stuff, it was a time advantage. We were trying to cheat the system and when the wheel came off, you paid the price for it,” Wallace said. “Crew chief had influence on that, the crew chief has no influence on the single lug nut now.”
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“It’s either on or its off, and if its off, your day’s f***ing over with. No crew chief wants that for the drivers, and even the crew members,” he continued.
“The four-week suspension needs to be revamped.”
Written by
Edited by
Ranvijay Singh