Richard Childress Racing announces crew changes for Austin Dillon after Roval suspension

After losing a wheel on track at the Roval, the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing pit crew suffered two suspensions for the next two weeks. Now, Austin Dillon has the official replacement for the upcoming NASCAR races at Las Vegas and likely Homestead-Miami.

When a car loses a wheel on the track, it comes with an automatic suspension of two weeks for the crew members involved. The two that are punished are the tire changer on whichever wheel comes off, as well as the jackman.

Austin Dillon loses tire changer Joshua Thomas and jackman Nicholas Covey for the next couple of races. Michael Johnson and Garrett Crall will replace them, respectively.

Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports reported on the roster change. Johnson and Crall come from the No. 13 Kaulig Racing team. That is the third, part-time team for Kaulig, which uses a Richard Childress Racing pit crew.

Earlier this season, Covey served a suspension for a violation of the substance abuse policy. He had since been reinstated and active on the No. 3 pit crew. Covey was replaced by Crall at that time as well, starting at Texas.

Richard Childress Racing has done the pit crew dance often this season. Johnson and Crall both worked on the No. 8 team for Kyle Busch at times this season.

Crall came to the No. 8 team after the Daytona 500. Changes were made immediately to the No. 8 team. Crall was then replaced after only one race himself at Atlanta.

Thomas and Covey will return for the final two races of the season, Martinsville and Phoenix.

Richard Childress Racing searching for one more win

Right now, the top priority for Richard Childress Racing is to get Kyle Busch into victory lane. At least, that should be the focus. There is no doubt that both Dillon and Busch have improved in the final stretch of the season.

Still, Busch does not have a checkered flag. He has come so close. Even earning two P2 finishes back-to-back at Daytona and Darlington. Busch got left out to dry at Talladega while trying to form a third line. And he was never really in it at the Roval.

Four more races are on the schedule. This weekend at Las Vegas might be the best shot that Busch has. Then again, with how strong Dillon was at Richmond, perhaps going to the short track at Martinsville will give Busch his opportunity to win a race.

Richard Childress Racing has shown improvement. But that win for Busch, extending his yearly win streak to 20 seasons in a row, is key. A driver with his talent and with a limited window remaining in his theoretical prime, Busch has to be given opportunities to win or he is not going to be happy for very long.