JTG Daugherty crew member suspended for 4 races
JTG Daugherty Racing crew member Jimmy Watts retrieves a tire that went across pit road during the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. // Jim Fluharty, NASCAR Scene
NASCAR announced Tuesday it has suspended JTG Daugherty Racing crew member Jimmy Watts for four races after he ran onto the frontstretch grass at Atlanta Motor Speedway during Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500 Sprint Cup Series race.
Watts, a gas man for the No. 47 Toyota of driver Marcos Ambrose, was also kicked out of Sunday’s race. A tire had gotten away from the JTG Daugherty pit crew during a green-flag stop, and Watts crossed pit road onto the grass to retrieve it.
NASCAR threw the caution flag for Watts.
Also, NASCAR placed JTG Daugherty crew chief Frank Kerr on probation until Dec. 31 for violating rule 9-4-A: Crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of the team.
Watts was suspended under rule 9-15-U: Crew members must not go on the race track for any reason while the cars are racing or while the cars are running under the yellow flag or the red flag, unless otherwise directed to do so by a NASCAR official. Watts has also been placed on probation until Dec. 31.
JTG Daugherty co-owner Tad Geschickter said in an e-mail the team would not appeal either penalty.
