NASCAR Suspends Three ThorSport Crew Members for Improper Tire Installation at Nashville
Pedro Martinez and Evan Clay received two-race bans after a wheel came off during the Nashville event. Quinta Funderburk was also suspended indefinitely.
yardbarker.comNASCAR suspended Pedro Martinez and Evan Clay, two crew members on the Ben Rhodes No. 99 Truck Series team, from the next two races for the loss or separation of an improperly installed tire or wheel during the Nashville event. Martinez and Clay will miss Sunday’s race at Michigan International Speedway and the June 19 race in San Diego.
NASCAR also announced an indefinite suspension for Quinta Funderburk. Ben Rhodes drives full-time for ThorSport Racing. He finished 28th in Nashville after placing fourth at Charlotte the previous week.
In 11 races this season Rhodes has recorded four top-five finishes. He sits seventh in the 2026 Truck Series standings, 158 points behind leader Layne Riggs. Rhodes has won seven career Truck Series races and captured the championship in both 2021 and 2023.
He has made one Cup Series start, finishing 30th at Sonoma in 2021. In a 2024 interview with Jeff Gluck of The Athletic, Rhodes said he remains content with his current role yet would welcome additional Xfinity and Cup opportunities if ThorSport approved them. He also described his IMSA Ford Mustang GT4 appearance at the Rolex 24 as a phenomenal experience.
