Compression Fracture Rules Erik Jones Out of Dover Cup Race; Heim to Pilot No. 43

Erik Jones, driver of the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, has been ruled out of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Dover Motor Speedway, after suffering a compression fracture in a lower vertebra.

The 27-year-old driver sustained the injury from a multi-vehicle accident in the final stage of last weekend’s GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway when his Family Dollar Toyota Camry was hooked into the outside wall head-on.

After climbing from the car under his own power, Jones went to the infield care center, where he was checked and released. Later on Sunday, the Byron, Michigan native returned to the infield care center, where he was then transported to UAB University Hospital in Birmingham, Ala., for further evaluation and testing.

Jones returned home to North Carolina on Sunday and had further visits with specialists in the Charlotte, North Carolina area, where the compression fracture was discovered.

Corey Heim, who competes in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for TRICON Garage and NASCAR Xfinity Series for Sam Hunt Racing, will serve as the interim driver of the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE.

“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.”

As of the time of publishing, there has been no timetable set for Jones’ return to competition, however, the three-time NASCAR Cup Series winner will be present at Dover Motor Speedway to offer support to the No. 43 team.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB says it will request a medical waiver for Jones to remain eligible for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. After Talladega, Jones sits 20th on the post-season grid, 64 points below the cutline.

"Just wanted to send out a quick message to everybody after the attention I received in Talladega, after the wreck everybody did a great job helping me out getting the help I needed but learning a little bit further," Jones said in a social media video. "I've got a spinal fracture that is going to keep me out of the car for Dover for this weekend, going to be taking it week-by-week and kind of just seeing how things go, but hope to be back in the car as soon as I can, get healed up quick and right."

Photo Credit: David Rosenblum, LAT Images, Courtesy of Toyota Racing