NASCAR News: Erik Jones broke his back in Talladega wreck
Erik Jones will not compete in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover Motor Speedway, Legacy Motor Club announced Tuesday. Corey Heim, the organization’s reserve driver, will pilot the No. 43 Toyota in the Würth 400, scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.
Jones was involved in a nose-first wreck into the outside retaining wall in Turn 3 during Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Although he was initially evaluated and released from Talladega’s infield care center, Jones later returned and was transported to UAB University Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, for further evaluation. Jones returned home to North Carolina on Sunday night and met with specialists in the Charlotte area, where it was determined that Jones suffered a compression fracture in a lower vertebra, Legacy M.C. said in a statement.
Although there has been no timeline set for his return behind the wheel, Jones will be in attendance in Dover to help call the race with his crew.
“Erik’s long-term health is our number one priority,” said Jimmie Johnson, co-owner of Legacy M.C. “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.”
— Erik Jones (@Erik_Jones) April 23, 2024