Pit road crash blocks NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race
2 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Sep 13, 2026, 12:45 AM
Last updated Sep 13, 2026
A multi-car accident on pit road brought the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race to a temporary halt at the end of Stage 1 on September 13, 2026. A chain-reaction collision involving Rajah Caruth and Nick Sanchez triggered an accordion-style pileup that trapped most of the field on the narrow pit road. The crash endangered several pit crew members, including those working for the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing team of Brent Crews. While multiple vehicles sustained damage, officials confirmed that everyone on pit road avoided serious injury. NASCAR issued a red flag to clear the debris and subsequently re-ordered the field to ensure no drivers were penalized for the disruption caused by the incident. Teams including Brandon Jones, Dean Thompson, Harrison Burton, Jeb Burton, Ryan Sieg, Patrick Staropoli, and Anthony Alfredo were among those involved in the cleanup efforts.
- •A pileup involving multiple cars occurred on pit road during the end of Stage 1.
- •NASCAR issued a red flag to clear the track after the pit lane was blocked.
- •Pit crew members near the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing car avoided serious injury.
- •Several drivers including Rajah Caruth, Nick Sanchez, and Brent Crews sustained vehicle damage.
- •Officials re-ordered the field once racing resumed to prevent competitive disadvantages.
- 12:45 AMYahoo Sports — Pit crews narrowly avoid serious injury as pit road completely blocked in scary NASCAR crash
- 12:45 AMMotorsport.com — Pit crews narrowly avoid serious injury, pit road completely blocked in scary NASCAR crash
"At the end of Stage 1, the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series field filed down pit road for standard pit stops, but things quickly went very wrong. On the narrow pit road, there was a check-up that led to Rajah Caruth and Nick Sanchez spinning. It was an accordion effect as cars piled in, pushing each other into the wreck. Caruth's car clipped crew members of Brent Crews' No. 19 Joe Gibbs ...Keep reading
"Officials briefly red-flagged race to clear pit road; three Joe Gibbs Racing crew members narrowly escaped serious injury in the pileup
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 13, 2026, 12:45 AMPit crews narrowly avoid serious injury as pit road completely blocked in scary NASCAR crash
Officials briefly red-flagged race to clear pit road; three Joe Gibbs Racing crew members narrowly escaped serious injury in the pileup
- Motorsport.comSep 13, 2026, 12:45 AMPit crews narrowly avoid serious injury, pit road completely blocked in scary NASCAR crash
At the end of Stage 1, the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series field filed down pit road for standard pit stops, but things quickly went very wrong. On the narrow pit road, there was a check-up that led to Rajah Caruth and Nick Sanchez spinning. It was an accordion effect as cars piled in, pushing each other into the wreck. Caruth's car clipped crew members of Brent Crews' No. 19 Joe Gibbs ...Keep reading
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