Following the Toyota Save/Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, NASCAR experts and officials reviewed the pit road incident involving Ty Gibbs and Brad Keselowski’s tire carrier. Both Todd Gordon and Kyle Petty agreed that Gibbs’ actions were within the bounds of racing conduct, dismissing any wrongdoing despite the near collision on pit road during the race’s 52nd lap. The deliberation underscores the complexity of navigating short pit stalls in NASCAR’s fast-paced environment, and the expert consensus supports NASCAR’s decision not to penalize Gibbs.
During Lap 52, as Gibbs approached his pit stall, he passed through the adjacent pit box directly ahead, that of Keselowski’s team. While maneuvering through Keselowski’s pit, Gibbs made minor contact with a tire held by Keselowski’s tire changer, nearly striking the crew member who was preparing to service Keselowski’s car. Shortly after, tensions escalated into a brief shoving match between the two teams’ crew members, which NASCAR officials quickly controlled.
Detailed Analysis of the Pit Road Dynamics from Todd Gordon
Officials thoroughly reviewed video footage from multiple angles before determining that Gibbs’ conduct was appropriate. Keselowski’s team submitted overhead footage to challenge the ruling, but NASCAR declined to issue penalties. Todd Gordon later provided a comprehensive explanation on “NASCAR Inside the Race,” detailing the difficulties posed by tight pit spaces and crew members’ positioning.
I see two cars coming to green flag pit in some of the shortest boxes we’ve got on pit road,
Gordon said.
The pit crew operates in tight quarters; the tire carrier must handle two tires and often stands sideways, exposing the tires. Gibbs’ passing caused slight contact which spun the tire carrier’s wrist and disrupted his positioning.
Gordon emphasized that the tire carrier could adjust his stance to reduce interference, stating,
I think the tire carrier actually could stand to not be so wide, understanding that he’s got the car that’s in the box in front of him coming in right in front of his car. He’s got to make himself a little skinnier so that he isn’t put behind in that situation.
Despite the pit box allowing two feet in the box for the tire carrier, he must stay as close to the wall as possible to minimize obstruction. Gordon noted that in this case, the tire carrier was positioned near the wall but was two tires wide and looking down pit road, which contributed to the tight scenario.
But he was standing looking down pit road and he’s two tires wide, which is half a pit box. And Ty Gibbs is trying to get in and get close to his fueler. The boxes are short, so you’ve got to kind of use up the box behind you to get yourself pointed in the right direction.
Kyle Petty Supports Gordon’s Viewpoint, Shares Personal Tire Carrier Experience
Kyle Petty echoed Todd Gordon’s assessment of the incident, describing it as commonplace in NASCAR pit stops, especially on short pit roads where cars enter stalls nose to tail. Petty called the event “almost a non-story” and explained that contact like this frequently occurs as drivers and crews adjust in tight quarters.
When you have this short a pit box, when you have two guys coming in at the same time, coming in nose to tail, pit boxes the way they were, I think this is almost a non-story,
he said. Petty noted the necessity of navigating closely to fuelers and tire changers, emphasizing that Gibbs entered his pit box cleanly.
While defending both parties, Petty also acknowledged the tire carrier’s frustration but suggested that crew members must stay out of the driver’s way:
No, I don’t have an issue with what Ty did. Now, I don’t really have an issue with what the tire carrier did either because he’s a little upset. He should have maybe kept his tire out of the way.
Petty drew on his own experience working as a tire carrier on his father Richard Petty’s team before his NASCAR driving career began. He recalled numerous moments where he was hit during tire changes and shared advice passed down by crew chief Dale Inman:
I got hit multiple times in my career as a tire carrier,
Petty said.
And finally, (Richard Petty’s crew chief Dale) Inman told me, ‘Hey, that driver’s focused on his box. He’s focused on that sign. You stay out of his way.’ And that’s what it kind of boils down to sometimes. It was my job to stay out of that guy’s way.
Post-Incident Scuffle Seen as Minor by Experts
Although the incident sparked a brief physical confrontation between members of the two pit crews, Petty characterized this altercation as insignificant in the broader scope of the race. Both teams executed effective pit stops, maintaining their positions on the track without loss of time.
They still had a great pit stop,
Petty noted.
Nobody said anything about the pit stop times or whether it slowed them down because it didn’t seem to. They went right back out in the same position.
He described the post-pit pushing and shoving as trivial and not worthy of further discussion:
It was just everything that we wanted to talk about was what the guys were doing, pushing and shoving on pit road. And to me, that’s a non-story, too.
Implications for NASCAR Pit Road Safety and Conduct
This incident highlights the challenges drivers and pit crews face while working in confined, high-pressure environments like short pit lanes. The consensus from seasoned racers and NASCAR officials suggests that the rules governing pit road behavior were upheld in this case, reinforcing the idea that minor contact and brief scuffles are part of the sport’s dynamics rather than clear violations.
Looking forward, NASCAR’s willingness to review footage and consider penalties remains in effect, but the expert consensus and official response may set a precedent for similarly tight scenarios in future races. The situation underscores the importance of pit crew positioning and driver awareness as racing continues to demand precision amidst intense competition.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why does Ty Gibbs drive the 54?
A. In 2022, Gibbs raced full-time in the Xfinity Series, driving the No. 54 Toyota for his grandfather, Joe Gibbs, the team owner. That season, Gibbs impressed many by winning seven races and earning a spot in the playoffs. He also had a chance to compete in the Cup Series at Pocono Raceway.
Q. Is Ty Gibbs any good?
A. Based on Racing Insights, Gibbs is among the top ten for passing, defense, and restarts on road tracks this year. He also holds the fourth spot for average running position, which is 10.92.
Q. Has Ty Gibbs ever won?
A. Ty Gibbs, the grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs, made a big impact in NASCAR in 2021. He won his debut race in the Xfinity Series at the Daytona Road Course. In 2022, Gibbs joined the Xfinity Series full time and captured the championship in his first season.
Q. How good is Ty Gibbs?
A. Ty Gibbs shares the best average finishing spot (6.0) among drivers who raced in both NASCAR Cup Series events on the Chicago Street Course. In 2023, he began in 12th place and ended in ninth. The previous year, he started in second position and led for 17 laps, finishing third.
