Former Robert Morris Lacrosse Player Involved in Scary NASCAR Incident

JonPatrik Kealey is a former Robert Morris lacrosse player that now works on a NASCAR pit crew.

Kealey arrived in Moon Township and made an immediate impact as he led the team in goals (23) and finished fourth in points (30). He earned All-NEC Freshman Team honors following his breakout freshman campaign.

Kealey missed the entire 2015 season due to injury and then played sparingly in 2016.

Following his career as a lacrosse player, Kealey jumped into the NASCAR scene and works as apart of Shane van Gisbergen’s pit crew.

On Sunday, Kealey used some of the toughness that he built up by playing Division-I lacrosse to fend off a flying tire. Yes, a tire hit Kealey during The Great American Getaway 400 which is apart of the NASCAR’s Cup Series.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Nobody’s tougher than the pit crews. pic.twitter.com/bDlvtkZrVV

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 23, 2025

The incident occurred when both van Gisbergen and the driver of the No. 16 car, AJ Allmendinger, pulled into pit road.

As Allmendinger veered towards his pit crew, he struck his tire carrier which caused one of the tires to go flying towards Kealey who was in the process of maneuvering into place to assist van Gisbergen.

Kealey was struck by the flying tire near the chest and neck area which caused him to turn around and fall onto his hands and knees. After a second or two on the ground, Kealey got up and still managed to finish the pit stop.

He was later checked on by a person on the medical staff and appeared to be good enough to finish the race as he did not need any further attention.