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Marco Andretti loses entire rear axle during XPEL 225 at COTA

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Jonathan Howard | Last updated 3/23/24

This is something that you don’t see often, even in NASCAR. Marco Andretti lost his entire rear axle while racing at COTA. Andretti was having a tough time in the XPEL 225 and then things got worse.

The incident happened just as Corey Heim was ready to take the white flag. Heim has battled all day and led the most laps. It felt like he was going to just run away with the race and then, with two laps to go, Andretti’s truck came apart.

Marco Andretti is done for the day and NASCAR brought out the red flag to clean up the mess. A ton of fluid was put down on the track as the axel dislodged itself. When is the last time you saw a rear end housing come off a racecar or truck like this?

Well that's a new one. pic.twitter.com/sZhzRK01Jj
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 23, 2024

For drivers like Taylor Gray, Ty Majeski, Nick Sanchez, Ross Chastain, and Connor Zilisch this is a new lease on life. Andretti couldn’t have done the unthinkable at a better time for these other drivers. For Corey Heim, well, that’s just how racing goes some days.

This also puts a lot of drivers in a tough situation with fuel mileage. Chaos in Austin, Texas for the Craftsman Truck Series.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

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