Erik Jones, driver of the No. 43 Toyota for Legacy Motor Club, sustained a compression fracture in his lower vertebra during a wreck at Talladega Superspeedway. The 27-year-old Jones was initially examined and released from the infield care center but was later transported to a hospital for further observation. Jones returned home to North Carolina on Sunday night and met with specialists in the Charlotte area, where the full extent of his injury was discovered. As a result of his injury, Jones will miss this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover Motor Speedway. Corey Heim will substitute for Jones in the No. 43 Toyota. Jones’ return date is undetermined, and Legacy Motor Club will request a medical waiver for Jones to remain eligible for NASCAR’s playoffs.
In the late stages of the race at Talladega, John Hunter Nemechek appeared to make contact with the bumper of Bubba Wallace. Wallace then clipped Jones, sending him into the outside wall. Jones took the brunt of the blow, a crash that would have been much worse without the sturdy cars and foamy barriers.
“Erik’s long-term health is our number one priority,” said Jimmie Johnson, co-owner of Legacy Motor Club. “It will be great to see him at the track Sunday, and we intend to give him the time it takes to recover properly. I know Corey will do a great job behind the wheel for the Club. In the meantime, our thoughts are with Erik and his wife Holly – they have our total support.”
Jones has one top-10 finish in 10 races this season and is 20th in the points standings.
