Pit-road pileup in O’Reilly Gateway race collects Caruth, Sanchez, others

A chain-reaction crash entering pit road at Lap 50 necessitated a red-flag condition in Saturday's NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. As lead-lap cars worked their way to pit road at the Stage 1 break, William Sawalich appeared to check up just past the first few pit stalls at pit entry. Behind him, calamity ensued as others couldn't brake hard enough in time. Rajah Caruth, a contender in The Chase presented by Mobil 1, was turned perpendicularly after being rear-ended, resulting in a blocked pit entry and many severely damaged race cars. MORE: Live leaderboard | At-track photos Chase driver Brandon Jones, Nick Sanchez, Harrison Burton and Jeremy Clements all suffered heavy damage in the melee. All crewmen on pit road avoided injury in the stack-up despite an incredibly close call for the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing crew pitting Brent Crews' machine in pit stall No. 40. Caruth's left-rear quarter panel clipped the incoming right-rear tire of Crews' car as Sanchez's No. 87 careened toward the car's right rear. Rear changer Bryan Backus and jackman Matt Wilps were contacted by the crashing No. 87 Chevrolet, but both completed service without injury and opted against a visit to the infield care center once the smoke cleared. WATCH: Crewmen narrowly avoid pit-road melee Others involved in the crash included Dean Thompson, Jeb Burton, Ryan Sieg, Patrick Staropoli and Anthony Alfredo. The cars that managed to complete service without issue were stopped on the backstretch as safety crews cleared the damaged vehicles and fluid before the rest of the field pitted and rejoined. Sanchez and Burton were officially ruled out of the race and did not continue. Sanchez is credited with a 34th-place finish and Burton 35th. This story will be updated.