NASCAR has penalized the No. 43 team of Legacy Motor Club for an infraction at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This will sideline two members of the pit crew as they serve a suspension.
According to the weekly penalty report, jackman Kellen Mills and front tire changer John Rosselli will serve two race suspensions for a violation of the NASCAR Rule Book (Sections 8.8.10.4.C: Tires and Wheels Note: Loss or separation of an improperly installed tire/wheel from the vehicle during the event).
They will be in eligible to return after the races at Iowa Speedway and Watkins Glen International.
The right front wheel of the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE came loose on Lap 89 of last weekend's Brickyard 400, two laps after Erik Jones had given up third place to make a green flag pit stop. The brake rotor sheared the wheel and sent it bouncing toward the outside wall. The No. 43 then followed as it slammed hard into the outside wall.
Erik Jones’ front right wheel went rogue 😮
Watch on TNT, TruTV, and HBO Max 📺 pic.twitter.com/Du9CT2nw1m
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 27, 2025
Jones limped the damaged car back to pit road with the tire carcass still lodged in the wheel well. He could not continue in the race due to the extent of the damage, so he left Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a 36th-place finish.
The replay of the pit stop showed that the tire changer appeared to tighten the lug nut before the car dropped off the jack. He then went back and used the gun on the lug nut once again, but this didn't have an effect with all four tires on the ground.
"Yeah, no warning other than just slow on the right front (on the pit stop)," Jones said after exiting the infield care center. "I saw them struggling there for a second, but figured we got it on. (As) soon as I turned into (Turn) 3, I knew we were going to crash, and I felt it come off.
"Yeah, it looked bad but honestly didn't feel as bad in the car as others I've had. I feel good and fortunate, happy for that. But, sad for the Dollar Tree Toyota team. Fast car and things weren't working out the best today, but I just wanted to have a shot at the end."
This DNF closed out a weekend that had started promising for Jones. The veteran driver had shown speed during practice before qualifying third for the crown jewel race. He missed out on stage points as various pit strategies unfolded, but he put himself back inside the top five before the disconnected wheel.
Jones and the No. 43 team have made progress after a slow start to the season, but they remain below the playoff cutline with four races remaining in the regular season. The DNF dropped Jones to 22nd in the Cup Series standings. He is two points behind Wood Brothers Racing's Josh Berry, who has a spot in the playoffs after winning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.