Following some mishaps at the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 on Sunday evening, Kyle Larson‘s crew has made some moves in anticipation of a NASCAR crew penalty.
FOX reporter Bob Pockrass reports that Larson’s team now shows new jackman Eric Ludwig and new rear changer Mike Moss, both coming from the Hendrick Motorsports crew that pits Corey LaJoie.
That seemed to indicate Larson’s team was expecting a two-race suspension for Brandon Johnson (jack) and Calvin Teague (rear changer) for a wheel coming off during the race. And sure enough, NASCAR confirmed that penalty on Tuesday evening.
Larson was in good shape early in the race before running into trouble that would end his day.
He led early but ended up held on pit road for two laps, a penalty for losing a wheel on the track during a caution. Larson reportedly felt like he had a flat, then his right rear wheel came off during a Stage 2 caution.
The suspension for Kyle Larson’s crew members will carry through Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega Speedway, as well as the race the following week at Dover Motor Speedway.
NASCAR clarifies order of finish
While Chase Elliott closed comfortably with the win in the final stretch after a couple of caution flags came out in the final few laps, the finish behind him at the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 wasn’t quite as clear.
When the race ended, initially William Byron was listed as P2, while Brad Keselowski was P3. Keselowski was not happy about that after exiting his car.
“Well I’m not sure we finished third,” Keselowski said in a post-race interview on FOX. “I’ve got to see the replay from NASCAR on that first before I’m going to concede that.”
Sure enough, after a review of the footage from the finish, NASCAR reversed course and clarified that Keselowski was indeed P2, while Byron was P3. Keselowski earned 40 Cup Series points as a result.
While Keselowski never did manage to lead a lap in the race, he also didn’t fall victim to the trap many other drivers did. There were four second-place wrecks on the afternoon, and Keselowski managed to avoid one himself to finish one spot out of first.
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