Tempers Flare on Pit Road: Ty Gibbs and Brad Keselowski Crews Clash at Sonoma – Speedway Digest

The Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway delivered high drama both on and off the track Sunday, as pit crews for Ty Gibbs and Brad Keselowski were involved in a heated altercation during green-flag pit stops on Lap 52.

The incident began when Gibbs, driving the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, entered his pit stall and clipped the adjacent stall occupied by Keselowski’s No. 6 RFK Racing Ford. In the process, Gibbs’ car reportedly struck a tire being carried by Telvin McClurkin, Keselowski’s front tire changer, twisting his wrist and slowing the stop.

Immediately after the stop, McClurkin approached Gibbs’ pit box to express his frustration. That confrontation quickly escalated into a shoving match between crew members from both teams before NASCAR officials intervened to break it up.

Crew Reactions:

• Jeremy Bullins, Keselowski’s crew chief, stepped in to defuse the situation, telling Gibbs’ jackman, “If we were in that pit box, I would expect him [Keselowski] to do the same [expletive] thing, so we’re good”.
• Ty Gibbs, when asked post-race, defended his actions: “It’s my right of way. They’re on the wall for a reason… that’s kind of the consequence you pay”.

NASCAR’s Verdict:

After reviewing the incident, NASCAR determined that Gibbs had done nothing wrong, citing his position as the lead car entering pit road and the tight spacing between stalls.

While the physical scuffle was brief and no serious injuries were reported, the confrontation underscored the intense pressure and razor-thin margins that define pit road during high-stakes races. With emotions running high and playoff implications looming, this flashpoint may not be the last between these two camps.

As the series heads to Dover Motor Speedway next weekend, all eyes will be on whether cooler heads prevail—or if this rivalry continues to simmer.