Terrifying moment Nascar mechanic is struck by flying tire during pit stop in heart-stopping accident
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
NASCAR produced a terrifying moment in its race last weekend.
While racing at Pocono Raceway, a tire was flung into a pit crew member accidentally.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
3
A Nascar tire changer was nailed by an errant tire over the weekend
Credit: X/KauligRacing
3
JP Kealey was hospitalized with his injuries
Credit: X/KauligRacing
JP Kealey works as a tire changer for Trackhouse driver Shane Van Gisbergen.
However, things went downhill quickly when fellow Trackhouse driver AJ Allmendinger came in at the same time for a stop.
Allmendinger came into his pit box too fast, sliding across the pavement and knocking a tire out of a pit crew member's hands.
That tire went flying towards Kealey and struck him hard.
The impact jammed his air gun directly into the side of his body.
Kealey is a former pro lacross player, and was left doubled over in pain before ultimately fighting through the pain.
Despite being able to finish the job, Kealey was forced to go to the hospital following the game.
It was revealed by Skip Flores of the Stacking Pennies podcast that he suffered two broken ribs.
Kealey also later revealed that his injuries included a partially collapsed lung.
The footage of the incident is terrifying, and Nascar fans shared how tough Kealey was for getting his job done.
American Thunder, NASCAR To Le Mans
"Scary moment there on pit road," one fan said.
"These guys are STUDS. Insane," another fan said.
"Man that guy is a baller for finishing the pit stop anyway," a third fan said.
"Nascar pit team tough WOW," a fourth fan said.
3
"Tough, super athletes. His ribs are sore," a fifth fan said.
The rough moment on pit lane was ultimately a sign of what was to come during the race.
Van Gisbergen ended up finishing 31st at The Great American Getaway 400.
Noel "Bud" MIller Jr will fill in as his tire changer for the Quaker State 400 this weekend.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Austin Dillon becomes 1st repeat Cook Out 400 winner in 15 years
August 17 - Austin Dillon's No. 3 Chevrolet came to life late Saturday night, leading him to repeat as winner of the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway and join the playoff field in the NASCAR Cup Series' penultimate regular-season race in Richmond, Va. In successfully defending his title, Dillon became the race's first repeat victor since Denny Hamlin accomplished the feat in 2009 and 2010. The Richard Childress Racing driver wrecked his way to victory last season through leader Joey Logano and Hamlin off the final turn. But an aggressive pit stop -- coming in right after passing leader Ryan Blaney on Lap 340 -- allowed the 35-year-old from North Carolina to beat Alex Bowman's No. 48 Chevrolet by 2.471 seconds for his sixth career win and put him in the 16-car postseason. Blaney finished third, followed by Logano, who started last for just the fourth time in his career. Austin Cindric was fifth. A Chevrolet driver has now won three of the past five races at the ¾-mile short track. Polesitter Ryan Preece crept away from AJ Allmendinger and Tyler Reddick after earning his second career pole on Friday, while Hamlin slid up to third to start the season's fourth short-track race. Despite most everyone taking tires at the midpoint as the rubber fell off, Preece stayed out and lost the lead to Reddick late. Bubba Wallace, Hamlin, Dillon and Cindric rounded out the top five in the 70-lap first stage. Wallace's No. 23 led fellow Toyota driver Christopher Bell in the early portions of Stage 2, but after a full green-flag run in Stage 1, the second segment featured three cautions for incidents, including a 16-car pile that started with Chase Briscoe getting hit by Kyle Busch in Turn 3. The melee included Hamlin, William Byron, Brad Keselowski and Reddick, who led 41 laps, among others. The No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet of Chase Elliott was retired from the event and finished last in 38th. Wallace earned the top bonus points by clinching the segment. Daniel Suarez, Blaney, Dillon and Bowman were the next four finishers behind Wallace, who led a race-high 123 laps. However, with Dillon pacing the field, Wallace's left-front tire came off as pit stops began near Lap 300, ending a strong run by the Brickyard 400 winner in Indianapolis last month. --Field Level Media
Reuters
a day ago
- Reuters
Ryan Preece earns pole for NASCAR's Cook Out 400
August 16 - RICHMOND, Va. -- Ryan Preece delivered in the clutch, claiming the second pole position of his career Friday afternoon at Richmond (Va.) Raceway as he tries to earn a playoff position with only two regular-season races remaining before the 16-driver NASCAR Cup Series championship field is set. It's certainly a good omen for Preece heading into Saturday night's Cook Out 400 (7:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at the three-quarter mile track. His No. 60 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford Mustang turned a fast lap of 121.381 mph, edging 23XI Racing's Tyler Reddick by .087 of a second. The 34-year-old Connecticut native Preece last earned the pole in 2023 at another Virginia short track, Martinsville Speedway. "I felt like it was on my bingo card, I'm not sure about everybody else's," said a smiling Preece, who trails RFK teammate Chris Buescher by 34 points for the final playoff points position. "That Ford Mustang was really sporty. I felt good about it in practice and it showed up for qualifying. We have a great starting spot and tomorrow we've just got to go execute and hopefully we can win this race." "At a place like this I would rather be out front. ... I'd rather be the one leading. Tomorrow is about getting out front, getting the clean air and setting my pace." It was also a particularly good day for the small Kaulig Racing team, whose veteran driver A.J. Allmendinger qualified third-fastest for his best career start at the track. Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin, a Virginia native and hometown favorite, will roll off fourth. Hendrick Motorsports' Chase Elliott rounds out the top five. Among those contending for the final three playoff positions, Reddick needs to earn just 30 points Saturday night to finalize his spot. Hendrick Motorsports' Alex Bowman, who holds a 60-point advantage inside the standings, will start ninth. Buescher, in the 16th and final playoff points position, qualified 12th. Thirteen drivers have claimed Playoff positions with victories this season. A new race winner this week at Richmond or next week in the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway would leap over Reddick, Bowman and Buescher in the playoff eligibility. Hendrick Motorsports' William Byron, the NASCAR Cup Series championship leader, qualified 14th. He holds a 42-point advantage on his teammate Elliott for the regular- season championship and the 15 bonus points that pays following the Daytona race. Richard Childress Racing's Austin Dillon, the defending race winner, will start 11th. Teammate Kyle Busch, a six-time winner at Richmond, will roll off 28th. Three-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano will start 38th. --Field Level Media
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
NASCAR star Connor Zilisch gives hilarious verdict after barely-believable moment he KO'd himself celebrating win
Up-and-coming NASCAR star Connor Zilisch has poked fun at the remarkable moment he knocked himself out and broke his collarbone while celebrating a win. The promising 19-year-old won at Watkins Glen in New York on Saturday but quickly went viral after slipping off the roof of his car while toasting the victory. He was rushed to hospital and later reassured fans he was 'getting better', while thanking the medical staff for their 'quick attention'. Now - two days on - Zilisch is able to laugh about the incident and has once again taken to X to reference the incident. In a post to his 30,000 followers, he wrote: 'Now that I know I'll be alright, it's gonna be tough to make a comeback from this generational aura debt. Dang, at least I won,' followed by a laughing emoji. The incident occurred at the end of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Mission 200 race, after Zilisch had survived 82 laps of the track against 37 other cars without so much as a scratch. Now that I know I'll be alright, it's gonna be tough to make a comeback from this generational aura debt. Dang, at least I won😂 — Connor Zilisch (@ConnorZilisch) August 12, 2025 Instead, things turned far more dangerous for Zilisch in victory lane afterwards as the North Carolina native struggled to extract himself from his No. 88 Chevrolet. As he attempted to hoist himself onto the roof of the car while holding a drink sponsor's can, Zilisch slipped. Although he nearly caught himself, Zilisch's foot was still stuck inside his driver's side window, preventing a clean escape. Instead, the young racer came crashing down to the pavement, where he lay motionless as horrified onlookers quickly moved in to check on him. 'Thank you everybody for reaching out today,' Zilisch later wrote online. 'I'm out of the hospital and getting better already. Thankfully, CT scans for my head are clear, I just have a broken collarbone. Thankful for all the medics for quick attention and grateful it wasn't any worse.' The freak injury capped an already eventful day for one of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s young drivers with he JR Motorsports team. On lap 65, Zilisch wrecked teammate Shane van Gisbergen while vying for the lead. He was dropped to fifth on the restart, but managed to retake the lead with five laps remaining. 'He did such a great job of getting back through the field and getting the lead,' crew chief Mardy Lindley told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. 'Praying for Connor right now that he´s OK. I think he´s going to be fine.' Zilisch has battled other injuries this season, including a back problem he sustained during a crash at Talladega.
