DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR officials penalized the Live Fast Motorsports team Wednesday after a wheel detached from the No. 78 Ford during Sunday’s GEICO 500 Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.
Driver and team co-owner B.J. McLeod spun in turn two, prompting a caution period on the 87th of 188 laps. As the car looped down the banking, the right-rear wheel detached and rolled to a stop on the apron as he drove away.
McLeod, who led two laps Sunday, posted a 26th-place finish.
As a result of the violation of Section 10.5.2.6 in the NASCAR Rule Book, competition officials issued four-race suspensions to Live Fast crew chief Lee Leslie and crew members Alpha Lamin (jack) and Kevin Teaf (rear-tire changer).
Christopher Stanley, who was listed as an engineer on the team roster for Talladega, was designated on an updated entry list as the No. 78 team’s crew chief for this Sunday’s race at Dover Motor Speedway.
