Sprint-car driver Chase Johnson was hospitalized after a security guard at Sonoma Raceway allegedly pushed him during NASCAR Cup Series weekend , an incident that’s now resulted in felony charges and big questions about event security and accessibility.
Johnson, who uses a wheelchair after a crash last year, was leaving the pit area with his partner Hayley when they tried to get to the ADA parking lot. They had the right credentials and had been told by another guard where to go. But when they got near Turn 11, a different guard, Alexander Rosiles, stopped them.
According to Johnson and multiple witnesses, Rosiles questioned their access, wouldn’t call a supervisor and gave them mixed instructions. Then he pushed Johnson in the chest, flipping his wheelchair backward and slamming his head into the ground.
Chase Johnson lost consciousness for a few seconds and was taken to Kaiser Hospital in Santa Rosa. Scans showed a cracked C1 vertebra and swelling in his spine from C6 to T2. He spent the night and was released the next morning. Johnson was in a wheelchair after a crash in August 2024 at Silver Dollar Speedway where he broke multiple vertebrae , so this fall could have been even more dangerous.
Legal charges and response
Rosiles, 27, was arrested on the spot and charged with felony assault with great bodily injury. He was released on $35,000bail and is due back in court on August 12. It also came out he had a prior assault conviction in 2019. The private security company that hired him has since let him go.
Johnson is a 4th generation racer from Penngrove, California with over 300 sprint-car and outlaw kart wins. Since his accident he’s stayed close to the sport, supporting other drivers and attending as many races as he can.
The case is getting a lot of attention not just because of the severity of the injuries but because of what it says about how disabled guests and drivers are treated.
NASCAR and Sonoma Raceway haven’t said anything publicly yet but there’s growing pressure for them to take this seriously and make sure something like that never happens again.
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