The pit crews for Ty Gibbs and Brad Keselowski had a demonstrative disagreement in the NASCAR Sonoma race.
On Lap 52 of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 on July 13 at Sonoma Raceway, Gibbs drove into his pit stall and clipped Keselowski’s stall, which is typical for drivers to do.
Advertisement
However, Gibbs’ car appeared to nearly hit the tire that Keselowski’s front tire changer, Telvin McClurkin, was carrying. McClurkin told TNT Sports that it twisted his wrist and slowed down Keselowski’s stop.
Immediately after Keselowski’s stop, McClurkin walked into Gibbs’ pit box to voice his frustration. Members of Gibbs’ crew started shoving Keselowski’s team member. The altercation was quickly broken up by NASCAR officials.
Keselowski and Gibbs had made contact in the hairpin Turn 11 earlier in the race.
NASCAR told Gibbs and his team later in the race that Gibbs had done nothing wrong.
Advertisement
“By NASCAR rules, I’m the lead car,” Gibbs said to TNT Sports pit reporters after the race. “We have these orange lines, I have to go around those orange lines and I have right-of-way. (The pit crew) is on the wall for a reason, they jump for a reason and they kind of get out of the way.
“Those guys like to push it and that’s kind of the consequence you pay,” Gibbs continued. “That’s unfortunate for them that they got penalized. Nothing malicious.”
McClurkin said he was not seriously injured and was able to continue.
Gibbs finished seventh and Keselowski finished 11th at Sonoma.
Advertisement
Follow sports writer Austin Chastain on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ChastainAJ or reach him via email at achastain@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR Sonoma race: Pit crews for Brad Keselowski, Ty Gibbs shove after incident
