Shane Wilson, Ryan Sieg Crew Chief, Suspended Four Races After Wheel Assembly Issues in Indy

UPDATE: Wednesday, August 18th:

Crew Chief Shane Wilson has been released  by the No. 39 RSS Racing team, according to a report from FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, following a penalty announcement from NASCAR in the aftermath of Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Indianapolis Road Course.

Ryan Sieg Racing won’t appeal penalty to Shane Wilson and has parted ways with Wilson and made some other personnel changes. Kevin “Cowboy” Starland will crew chief.

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 18, 2021

Attempts at reaching the team for a comment have gone unanswered at this time.

ORIGINAL STORY:

On Wednesday, NASCAR issued their weekly post-race penalty report, and among the penalties listed was a hefty four-race suspension for Ryan Sieg’s crew chief Shane Wilson.

Wilson will miss the next four NASCAR Xfinity Series races after violating sections 10.9.8.I (crew members/servicing) and 12.5.2.5 (safety) of the NASCAR rule book.

The rule book states:

“Any loss or separation of an improperly installed tire(s)/wheel(s) from the vehicle after exiting the team’s assigned pit box will result in a four race suspension of the crew chief, tire changer of the lost tire(s)/wheel(s) and the jack man.”

As this was an issue that happened not immediately following a pit stop, Wilson is the only member of the No. 39 team that has been penalized.

The No. 39 team finished 32nd of 36 cars in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Pennzoil 150 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. Sieg’s race ended on lap 14 when the rear wheel assembly fell apart and scattered across the track in multiple pieces.

The only other infraction on the weekly penalty report was a $10,000 fine for Ryan Blaney’s crew chief Todd Gordon for an unsecured lug nut following last Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Verizon 200.