Gibbs team suspends Truex duo after fracas at Brickyard

Joe Gibbs Racing suspended two crewmembers of Martin Truex Jr.’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team who were involved in an incident with Kyle Busch’s crew chief, Adam Stevens.

Rear tire changer Lee Cunningham and front tire changer Chris Taylor were sanctioned for three races, JGR spokesman Chris Helein confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.

The incident stemmed from a crash with 50 laps remaining in Sunday’s Brickyard 400 in which points leader Truex made contact with race leader Busch on a restart, wrecking both. Busch, seeking his first win of the season, had led 87 laps.

Fox Sports 1 replays showed Cunningham clapping and shouting “Tell Kyle, ‘ Way to go,’ ” as Stevens walked past Truex’s Furniture Row Racing pit box afterward. Stevens approached and began an aggressive verbal exchange before Taylor entered and pushed the crew chief away, saying, “I don’t care who you are. I don’t give a (expletive) who you are. Get out of my box.”

This situation was complicated by the fact that Furniture Row is an affiliate of the Gibbs team and leases pit crews from its fellow Toyota operation.

Furniture Row team owner Barney Visser said in a release, “Our No. 78 pit crew is hired, trained and managed by Joe Gibbs Racing. They are one of the best pit crews on the circuit and have kept us up front all season. … We admire the talent and dedication of our pit crew and support all of the decisions and actions taken by Joe Gibbs Racing.”

Kip Wolfmeier and John Royer will replace the suspended duo.