Ross Chastain and Trackhouse Racing will be without two key pit crew members on the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the next two weeks, after NASCAR issued a penalty following last Sunday’s event at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).
The penalty comes from an in-race incident in Sunday’s DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix, when, in the closing laps of the race, the right-rear tire of the No. 1 Busch Light Chevrolet became detached from the racecar, drawing a late caution.
As per the NASCAR Cup Series Rule Book, Chastain was held on pit road for two laps following the incident (since the wheel came loose on the racetrack). Now, as expected, two crew members have been issued a two-race suspension.
A penalty has been issued following this past weekend's action at Circuit of the Americas. pic.twitter.com/UPIBKRp3HU
— NASCAR Communications (@NASCAR_Comms) March 3, 2026
The Alva, Florida-native finished 35th in Sunday’s event at Circuit of The Americas, two laps behind eventual race-winner Tyler Reddick — who made history as the first driver to win the opening three events of a NASCAR Cup Series campaign.
Josh Appleby and Kenneth Pozega (the jackman and rear changer on the No. 1) will not be active on pit road for the next two NASCAR Cup Series events at Phoenix Raceway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Both crew members will return to action at Darlington Raceway later this month.
Trackhouse Racing has yet to confirm who will replace Appleby and Pozega on pit road for the next two weeks.
Chastain is a previous race-winner in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway, triumphing in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at the one-mile oval in Avondale, Arizona.
Further confirmation on who will be serving as the fill-in jackman and rear tire changer for the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro this weekend at Phoenix will come from Trackhouse Racing at a later date.
The Straight Talk Wireless 500 will take place on Sunday, March 8 at 3:30 PM ET. Coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1, Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Heading into the fourth event of the season at Phoenix Raceway, Chastain is sitting 20th-place in series point standings, just four points below the bubble for the 16-driver points-based Chase for the Bill France Cup.
