A normal pit stop turned chaotic and dangerous during last weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway, when a flying tire struck Trackhouse Racing crew member JP Kealey and sent him to the hospital with serious injuries.
Kealey, a tire changer for rookie Shane Van Gisbergen, took a direct hit from a 50-plus-pound tire and wheel assembly during the race. The impact left him with two broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung. Despite the pain, Kealey somehow managed to finish the pit stop before collapsing in visible distress.
Chaos Unfolds On Pit Road
The incident unfolded when fellow Trackhouse driver AJ Allmendinger slid too far into his pit stall, clipping one of his own tire changers in the process. That unexpected contact launched the loose tire into Kealey’s direction. He had no time to react. The tire slammed into the pit gun he was holding, which in turn punched him hard in the chest.
Trackhouse officials confirmed Kealey hit the ground immediately after the impact. Spectators and team members watched in shock as the veteran crewman struggled to get up.
Moments later, Kealey stood back up, gritted his teeth, and completed the stop for Van Gisbergen. But it was clear something was very wrong.
Not only did an object as heavy as a large piece of luggage hit JP at speed but the tire also jammed his ten pound wheel gun into his chest as it hit him so while adrenaline might have pushed him through to finish the pit stop, he'll probably need some time to recover. pic.twitter.com/uWN7YyxfCi
— Bozi Tatarevic (@BoziTatarevic) June 24, 2025
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Medical staff rushed him to a Pennsylvania hospital, where he remained until Tuesday under evaluation. Team representatives say Kealey won’t travel with Van Gisbergen’s crew to Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend.
The hit carried an extra layer of irony. Just a year ago, Kealey worked on Allmendinger’s pit crew before shifting to Van Gisbergen’s team for the 2024 season.
Known for his strength and athleticism, Kealey played several seasons in the National Lacrosse League before joining NASCAR’s elite pit crews. Standing at six feet tall and weighing close to 200 pounds, he’s considered one of the strongest members in the garage. But even that build couldn’t cushion the blow from a high-speed, runaway tire.
Trackhouse Racing has yet to announce who will fill Kealey’s spot this weekend. The team also hasn’t indicated how long he will be sidelined. For now, Kealey continues to recover and is expected to be out at least through the Atlanta race. No penalties were issued in connection to the incident, which officials ruled as unintentional.
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