For the second-consecutive NASCAR Cup Series race weekend, COVID-19 exposure has resulted in Joe Gibbs Racing shuffling pit crew members between at least one of its teams and at least another team for which it supplies pit crew personnel.
Lee Cunningham, the rear tire changer for Denny Hamlin on the #11 JGR team, will miss Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway because of team protocol.
Dwayne Ogles will replace Cunningham on the #11 team at MIS. Ogles is the regular rear tire changer for Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. on the No.23 team of 23XI Racing.
Marcus Horton, usually on the No. 37 JTG-Daugherty Racing team of Ryan Preece, will sub for Ogles on the #23 crew. Bryan Backus will be Horton’s sub on the #37 team.
The 23XI Racing team is co-owned by Hamlin and has a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing. Even though JGR is a Toyota team and JTG-Daugherty Racing fields Chevrolets, JGR supplies pit crew personnel for JTG.
Brad Keselowski’s #2 Team Penske pit crew also has been affected by COVID-19 exposure in the past week ahead of Sunday’s race at Keselowski’s home track.
Front tire changer Ryan Flores is out for the Michigan race after being exposed to COVID-19 in a NASCAR on FOX TV studio.
Backup crew member Justin Prevette will substitute for Flores at MIS.
Flores was exposed to COVID-19 at the same time as driver Corey LaJoie. LaJoie also will sit-out the FireKeepers Casino 400. Josh Berry will be the substitute driver in LaJoie’s #7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet.
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