Erik Jones, driver of the No. 43 Family Dollar Toyota, will be sidelined for the upcoming Würth 400 at Dover Motor Speedway due to a back injury sustained during a wreck at Talladega Superspeedway. Following the Geico 500, Jones was taken to a local hospital and later released the same evening. The incident occurred as the No. 43 Toyota was involved in a hard wreck while running single file among fellow Toyota drivers.
An announcement on Tuesday revealed that Jones has suffered a compression fracture in a lower vertebra, a similar injury to what Alex Bowman experienced last year. Bowman missed three races due to his fractured vertebra, with drivers like Denny Hamlin noting the challenges of returning to racing without full sensation in the racecar.
Jimme Johnson, co-owner of Legacy Motor Club, emphasized that Erik's long-term health is the top priority for the team. Johnson expressed support for Jones and his wife Holly during this time, ensuring that Jones will be given the necessary time to recover properly. Corey Heim, the reserve driver for Legacy Motor Club, will step in for Jones and make his Nascar Cup Series debut in the No. 43 car.
Corey Heim is a promising talent in the racing world, boasting six Craftsman Truck Series wins and competing as a championship favorite with Tricon Garage. He also races part-time in the Xfinity Series with Sam Hunt Racing.
Despite his setback, Jones remains optimistic about his return to the track, stating that he will take it week-by-week and hopes to be back in the car as soon as possible. He plans to be present at Dover to support Heim during his debut race.
Currently, Jones holds the 20th position in the standings with only one top-10 finish. Legacy Motor Club made the switch to Toyota this season after running Chevrolets in their debut year last season.
