Two Bubba Wallace Crew Members Suspended for Loose Wheel Incident

NASCAR has suspended two members of Bubba Wallace's pit crew for two Cup Series races following a safety violation. Rear-tire changer Adam Hartman and jackman Nathan Ricketts were penalized after a front wheel detached from Wallace's car during Lap 18 of Sunday's race at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego.

The incident, where the right-front wheel came loose, resulted in a caution period and a violation of NASCAR's rulebook concerning wheel safety. Wallace himself received a two-lap penalty but was able to rejoin the race. Despite this setback, Wallace and his No. 23 team achieved a remarkable second-place finish, coming in behind teammate Corey Heim in a 1-2 finish for 23XI Racing.

Hartman and Ricketts will miss the upcoming races at Sonoma Raceway and Chicagoland Speedway. They are eligible to return to competition on July 12 at EchoPark Speedway, located outside Atlanta. The team's strong performance in the race underscores their capability, even with the pit crew challenge.