Garage 66 and Kaulig Racing Hit with Penalties Over Loose Wheels

NASCAR delivered penalties to two race teams after wheel-related incidents at Charlotte Motor Speedway last weekend. The first incident involved the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford, driven by Josh Bilicki, during Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600.

A loose right-rear wheel detached from the car under caution on lap 49, prompting a two-race suspension for crew members Brehanna Daniels, the rear-tire changer, and Ethan Hindman, the jackman. This ruling follows Section 10.5.2.6.D of the NASCAR Rule Book, which covers safety penalties relating to wheel installation.

The Xfinity Series also saw a similar issue. On Saturday, Daniel Dye’s No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet lost its right-rear wheel on the backstretch under caution at lap 200.

The incident sent the car spinning into the inside SAFER barrier. As a result, Kaulig Racing lost two crew members as well—rear-tire changer Jerick Newsome and jackman Richie Williams—who will both miss the next two Xfinity Series races, following Section 10.5.2.5.E in the NASCAR Rule Book.

Both suspensions take effect immediately, keeping the named crew members out until after the June 8 NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan for the Garage 66 team, and through the June 14 Xfinity Series race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for Kaulig Racing’s personnel. These penalties arrive at a busy point in the season, as both teams prepare for upcoming races at Nashville Superspeedway.

Some in the NASCAR community worry these penalties may impact team performance in the short term. Pit crew members hold key roles, with pit stop speed and accuracy often deciding race outcomes.

Teams will have to make rapid personnel adjustments to stay competitive while maintaining safety standards set by the sanctioning body, aligning with https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/tires on proper tire maintenance. Crew chief strategy will also come under scrutiny as teams race without their regular pit crew members, in accordance with https://www.nascar.com/penalty-report.

Replacement personnel need to adapt quickly in high-pressure situations, as a single misstep could hurt overall standings in both series. With both Garage 66 and Kaulig Racing still fighting for points, every crew change can affect their championship hopes.

Safety remains a core value for NASCAR. Strict enforcement around proper wheel installation aims to protect drivers, crew, and spectators.

While penalties disrupt team routines, these incidents highlight the ongoing need for precision during every pit stop throughout the season. The next race weekend brings added attention to the pit lane, as both the Cup and Xfinity Series return to Nashville Superspeedway.

The Xfinity Series event is scheduled for Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET, with the Cup Series following on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. ET. With tightened safety awareness, teams look to move forward while keeping their championship goals on track.