Erik Jones will be sidelined for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover Motor Speedway after suffering a spinal fracture in a recent crash. The 27-year-old driver shared a video on social media Tuesday, indicating that he is taking his recovery one week at a time, without specifying a return date.
Legacy Motor Club, Jones’s team, issued a statement confirming that he consulted with specialists in the Charlotte area and was diagnosed with a compression fracture in a lower vertebra. To fill in for Jones, Corey Heim, a leading driver in the Truck Series and a reserve for two Toyota teams at the Cup level, will drive the No. 43 Toyota Camry in the race, which will air at 2 p.m. Sunday on FS1.
Jimmie Johnson, co-owner of Legacy Motor Club, emphasized that Jones’s long-term health is the team’s top priority. Johnson expressed support for Jones and his wife, Holly, stating that the team will give him the necessary time to recover fully. Johnson also voiced confidence in Heim’s ability to perform well in Jones’s absence.
The injury occurred during Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway, where Jones was involved in a crash. Initially, he was evaluated at the infield care center and released, though he mentioned that his back was sore. Jones later returned to the care center and was subsequently transferred to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, for further evaluation. He was released from the hospital early Monday morning and returned home to North Carolina.
Jones’s absence is a significant loss for the team, but their focus remains on his recovery, with Heim stepping in to compete in the upcoming race.
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