A daunting incident unfolded on pit road at Pocono Raceway on Sunday when a flying tire struck JP Kealey, the rear tire changer for Shane van Gisbergen’s crew. Kealey was knocked to the bottom in the course of the pit cease, however nonetheless managed to complete his work. He was later hospitalized, according to Skip Flores on the Stacking Pennies podcast. Kealey revealed he suffered cracked ribs and {a partially} collapsed lung, per Bozi Tatarevic.
Video from inside AJ Allmendinger’s automotive reveals him sliding deep into his pit field, by accident hitting one among his personal tire changers and sending the tire flying towards Van Gisbergen’s crew because the No. 88 automotive was pitting concurrently. The tire struck Kealey, driving his air gun into his proper aspect. The influence then pushed Kealey into the rear left aspect of the No. 88 automotive as he fell to the bottom.
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Steven Taranto
After a couple of seconds, Kealey managed to get again on his toes and full the cease, however he was later proven in seen ache in the course of the broadcast of The Nice American Getaway 400. Van Gisbergen, coming off a win on the Viva Mexico 250 in Mexico Metropolis, went on to complete thirty first at Pocono.
Trackhouse Racing has named Noel “Bud” Merrill Jr. because the substitute rear tire changer for the No. 88 crew forward of this weekend’s Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Kealey is a former skilled lacrosse participant for the New England Blackwolves and Buffalo Bandits who performed collegiately at Robert Morris. He was the No. 10 general decide within the 2017 Nationwide Lacrosse League Draft.
Kealey spent his early years with Trackhouse on mortgage to numerous Truck and Xfinity groups, together with a stint with Kaulig Racing within the Cup Sequence. He served as Allmendinger’s rear tire changer within the No. 16 automotive final season earlier than being promoted to Trackhouse’s No. 88 crew this 12 months following Van Gisbergen’s full-time transfer to Cup.