NASCAR is a sport where crashes and injuries grab headlines, but it’s not just the drivers who face risks. Pit crew members, who move fast and work close to speeding cars, sometimes get hurt, too. The recent incident at Pocono Raceway put the spotlight on Shane van Gisbergen’s tire changer, JP Kealey, who suffered a serious injury during a pit stop.
SVG’s Tire Changer, JP Kealey, Got Candid About His Injury at the Pocono Raceway
A few weeks after a tire mishap sent him to the hospital, Kealey sat down with motorsports reporter Bob Pockrass to discuss his experience. “I collapsed my lung, and then I broke my sixth rib,” Kealey said.
His background as a former hockey and pro lacrosse player helped him stay tough. He explained that after his recovery, he felt healthy enough to do most things, except “benching heavy.”
Kealey described how the accident unfolded. He noticed AJ Allmendinger’s car come too close to the pit wall, so he checked up to avoid being hit. As he shifted his attention to Shane van Gisbergen’s car, a tire flew toward him and struck the left side of his upper torso. “I didn’t really have a lot of time to react, and I didn’t see it coming. I definitely felt it once it got there, but it happened pretty fast,” he said.
Pockrass asked Kealey if his athletic background made him push through the pain. Kealey credited his father, saying he was taught to finish any job he started unless he was seriously hurt. That mindset kicked in right after the tire hit him.
“It was instinct,” Kealey explained. He picked up the gun, changed the tire, and only afterward did he deal with the pain and injury. Kealey’s story reminds us how dangerous pit road can be, even for the most experienced crew members.
What This Means for Pit Crew Safety
For fans watching at home, it’s easy to forget that the pit crew members are just as much athletes as the drivers. They train hard, react fast, and sometimes put their bodies on the line. Kealey’s injury shows why NASCAR keeps working on safety for the drivers and everyone on the team.
Despite the risks, Kealey was back at work in Chicago not long after his injury. His attitude is common among pit crew members, who know accidents can happen but still love the thrill and teamwork of race day. Stories like his make fans appreciate the grit and dedication behind every successful pit stop.
He suffered a broken rib and collapsed lung at Pocono, but Shane van Gisbergen rear tire changer JP Kealey is here in Chicago ready to change tires. The former hockey and pro lacrosse player speaks about getting hit by the flying tire and completing the stop. @NASCARONFOX https://t.co/P09xGcq3m3 pic.twitter.com/w6Ri6m8mnW
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 5, 2025
Kealey’s openness about his injury and recovery gives fans a rare look at what it takes to work on a NASCAR crew. It also highlights why safety improvements are always a hot topic in the sport. As long as cars are racing and tires are flying, the pit crew will be right in the middle of the action, ready to do whatever it takes to keep their driver on track.