Throughout the history of NASCAR, there have been several rules and procedures implemented to improve safety on pit road, but every once and a while, there is an incident that shows just how dangerous pit road is.
During the second stage of Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, John Hunter Nemechek and his LEGACY MOTOR CLUB crew completed a pit stop when the left-front wheel came loose and detached from the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE.
After a race like today’s, this video puts everything into perspective! So glad none of my guys got hurt by that tire, especially Seth and Milan ??? #nascar #pitstop #bristolmotorspeedway #foodcity500 pic.twitter.com/ZwSvt6L0rp
— Daniel Suárez (@Daniel_SuarezG) April 13, 2025
As the wheel came off and rolled down pit road, it moved towards the pit box of Daniel Suarez, whose No. 99 Trackhouse Racing team was in the process of performing their pit stop.
The tire eventually made hard contact with the rear-end of the Choice Privileges Chevrolet and bounced into the air, making contact with the fuel can and bouncing away.
Luckily, neither Milan Rudanovic (Fueler) nor Seth Gajdorus (Rear Changer) was impacted or injured by the tire, and the entire crew just continued with their pit stop like nothing was happening.
John Hunter Nemechek’s tire took off after his stop and … that was CLOSE ?
“Scary stuff right there.”- @KevinHarvick pic.twitter.com/HcylPf1pZf
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 13, 2025
Following the completion of Sunday’s 500-lapper from Bristol, where Suarez finished 33rd, the Trackhouse Racing driver posted a video to social media of the team’s view of the stray tire.
John Hunter Nemechek on the other hand, had to start at the tail-end of the longest line, as his penalty for losing his left-front wheel on pit road. The LEGACY MOTOR CLUB driver would finish 21st.
