Two Joe Gibbs Racing pit crew members coming into close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 resulted in a shuffling of pit crew members that also included JTG-Daugherty Racing ahead of Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen.
Hunter Masling, the front-tire carrier on the #19 JGR team of Martin Truex Jr., was sidelined by his coronavirus exposure, and Bryan Backus from JTG-Daugherty’s #37 team of Ryan Preece subbed for him at Watkins Glen. Joshua Pech, also from the #37 pit crew, substituted for Matthew Tyrrell, the fueler on the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing team of Kyle Busch, for the same reason.
Even though Joe Gibbs Racing is a Toyota team and JTG-Daugherty Racing a Chevrolet team, JTG gets its pit crew personnel from JGR.
“We hope it doesn’t impact things,” Truex said. “Honestly, at the end of the day, you hope he’s ready to go. Tough circumstances the way it all worked out, because he [Masling] didn’t even test positive; he was around somebody who did. It’s kind of weird times, as we all know, but hopefully, it doesn’t affect us.”
Truex and Busch finished third and fourth, respectively, behind Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott. Preece finished 28th in Sunday’s race.
Backup crew members Marcus Horton and Cory White filled in for Backus and Pech on the #37 pit crew at Watkins Glen. Brandon Traino also replaced Brandon Linker as rear-tire changer on the #37 crew. No reason was given for that change.
