NASCAR issues indefinite suspension to Austin Dillon pit crew member for violating substance abuse policy

Following the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 on Sunday, NASCAR has issued a handful of penalties for various reasons, and one that will catch the eye of NASCAR fans is an indefinite suspension for a violation of the substance abuse policy.

According to a NASCAR press release, competition officials issued an indefinite suspension to Nicholas Covey, a pit crew member for Austin Dillon, for violating the substance abuse policy.

Covey was a jackman for the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet as recently as the April 7 race at Martinsville Speedway. He was a linebacker at Nebraska from 2005 to 2009.

The finish at the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 was a good one, though there were multiple caution flags in the late stages of the race, resulting in a double-overtime finish.

Chase Elliott secured the victory comfortably, his first win since 2022. But there was plenty of other interesting action on the day, including an unfortunate mishap for Kyle Larson that saw his team penalized by NASCAR.

Kyle Larson No. 5 team penalized for losing wheel

NASCAR penalized Kyle Larson’s pit crew following the team losing a wheel on the track during a Stage 2 caution at the Texas Motor Speedway.

Larson’s team now shows two new crew members, according to Bob Pockrass of FOX. Larson’s team now shows new jackman Eric Ludwig and new rear changer Mike Moss, both coming from the Hendrick Motorsports crew that pits Corey LaJoie.

NASCAR issued a two-race suspension for Brandon Johnson (jack) and Calvin Teague (rear changer) for a wheel coming off during the race.

The suspension for Larson’s crew members will carry through Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega Speedway, as well as the race the following week at Dover Motor Speedway.

Larson was in good shape early in the race before running into trouble that would end his day.

He led early but ended up held on pit road for two laps, a penalty for losing a wheel on the track during a caution. Larson reportedly felt like he had a flat, then his right rear wheel came off during a Stage 2 caution.