Shane van Gisbergen provides injury update on tire changer after Pocono incident

Last week at Pocono, Shane van Gisbergen’s rear tire changer, JP Kealey, was hit with a tire and suffered injuries. The NASCAR crew member reportedly suffered a couple of broken ribs and a punctured lung as a result.

Shane van Gisbergen is in Atlanta while his tire changer rests at home. The Trackhouse Racing driver gave an update on his crew member during media availabilities.

“So he had a fractured rib, I think, and a partially punctured lung,” SVG said, via Steven Taranto of CBS Sports. “So, yeah, a couple of weeks off. Is the plan for Chicago? … But yeah, back home now. Yeah, I’ve done ribs myself it’s not real fun. So, go take it easy for as long as he needs and come back when he’s good to go.”

Update on injured Trackhouse Racing pit crew member JP Kealey: Shane van Gisbergen says Kealey is back home and resting after being hit by a tire last week at Pocono. Kealey will be out a couple weeks after suffering broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung.

Kealey's role as… pic.twitter.com/H2GaIL1VnC

— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) June 27, 2025

AJ Allmendinger pulled into his pit stall at Pocono right behind Shane van Gisbergen. As Allmendinger’s tire carrier crossed the front of his car, the 16 hit the tire out of the crew member’s hands. It went flying into JP Kealey as he ran around to change the right rear on the 88 car.

All things considered, it could have been worse. A flying tire is one of the many hazards on pit road. Still, with broken ribs and a punctured lung, Kealey finished the pit stop before being replaced by a backup.

In a couple of weeks or so, Kealey will be back. He could be back for SVG’s next win at Chicago or Sonoma.

Shane van Gisbergen continues to improve in Cup Series

There are nine races left in the regular season. Three of those are road courses. Then there is Atlanta tomorrow and Daytona at the conclusion of the regular season. So, five wild-card races for Shane van Gisbergen to earn another win or two. Maybe even three.

I do not expect SVG to win on an oval in 2025, even a superspeedway. Then again, Atlanta in 2024 was one of his best oval finishes of the Xfinity Series season. Maybe there is something about drafting that SVG has picked up on in his short time in the States.

Atlanta will probably be a big learning process once again for van Gisbergen. He will have a chance at a great finish, but will have plenty of chances to make mistakes and lose his opportunity to pick up more points.

Shane van Gisbergen is dying to get back to the right turns. For this weekend, he has a night race on the banks of Atlanta to get through.