Jones suffers back injury from Talladega crash

Erik Jones will not be racing at Dover this weekend after suffering a compression fracture in his back from the wild finish at Talladega.

The Legacy Motor Club driver will be sidelined with reserve and Truck Series driver Corey Heim stepping up to get a NASCAR Cup Series debut.

Jones racing the #43 was one of the Toyotas caught up in a strange single-file crash on approach to Turn 3.

He was second in line but contact from Bubba Wallace saw the Legacy Motor Club entry rotated head-first into the concrete.

If he avoided the drama the #43 would have been well placed considering the lead car of the train was Tyler Reddick, who went on to win the race.

However, Jones suffered an heavy impact with the wall, so hard he has a spinal fracture and will miss racing the “Monster Mile” this weekend.

“After the attention I received in Talladega after the wreck, everyone did a great job, but learning a little bit further I have a spinal fracture that will keep me out of the car for Dover this weekend,” he said on social media.

“I have got to take it week by week at this stage and seeing how things go, but hopefully get back in the car as soon as I can.

“I will be over this weekend supporting Corey and running well in the #43.

“Im alright at home, healing up and will be back in the car soon.”

Heim is a highly rated prospect with six wins and 23 top five finishes from his 48 NASCAR Truck Series starts.

He will also race against Shane van Gisbergen in the Xfinity Series.

“Erik’s long-term health is our number one priority,” Legacy team co-owner Jimmie Johnson said. “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.”

Van Gisbergen will return to racing his usual WeatherTech Kaulig Racing livery for the Xfinity Series race at 3.30AEST this Sunday morning, while the Cup Series race begins at 4.00 AEST Monday morning.

Photo by Rusty Jarrett / NKP / LAT Images

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