Aric Almirola loses 2 crew members over wheel incident at Phoenix
NASCAR suspended two of Aric Almirola’s crew members for a wheel incident in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway.
Suspensions were given to front tire changer Ryan Mulder and jackman Sean Cotten for violating NASCAR rulebook Sections 8.8.10.4 A&C.
Those sections specify penalties for a loss or separation of an improperly-installed tire or wheel from a vehicle during a race.
On lap 139, Aric Almirola’s right-front wheel broke into several pieces in turn four. Almirola wrecked as his right-front tire broke free and debris littered the track.
Per the rulebook, NASCAR gave Almirola a two-lap penalty but the team protested. They said the incident wasn’t caused by their error. Instead, they argued it was because NASCAR’s provided part broke.
Almirola eventually finished 33rd, four laps down, in Sunday’s United Rentals Work United 500.
The two suspended crew members will return to the track for the April 2 Cup race at Richmond Raceway.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com