After an improperly secured wheel at Sonoma Raceway, Rick Ware Racing (RWR) will spend the next two weekends without two core members of their pit crew.
Marquill Osborne (rear tire changer) and De’Quan Houston (jackman) have been served a two-race suspension by NASCAR, and will miss out on NASCAR Cup Series events at Dover Motor Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Both Osborne and Houston will return to competition at Iowa Speedway on August 3.
Rick Ware Racing has yet to officially confirm (whether that be publicly or by updating team rosters) who will serve as the interim rear tire changer and jackman for the No. 51 Ford Mustang Dark Horse team in the meantime.
The suspension stems from a late-race incident in last weekend’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, when the right-rear tire of Ware’s No. 51 Mighty Fire Breaker Ford Mustang Dark Horse came loose and detached from the racecar.
Since the tire came detached from the vehicle on track, Ware was held for two laps. That penalty derailed a lead-lap run, leaving him in 34th place when the checkered flag was displayed.
There were no other penalties assessed in the NASCAR Cup Series from Sonoma — with both RFK Racing and Ty Gibbs cleared from any wrongdoing in a pit road scuffle.
In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, three organizations were handed down fines of $5,000 for having one improperly secured lug nut in post-race inspection. Richard Childress Racing (No. 21), Sam Hunt Racing (No. 26), and Alpha Prime Racing (No. 44) will have to pay those fines.
