Erik Jones will be sidelined this weekend as he suffered a compression fracture in his back in a hard crash Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway.
Legacy Motor Club reserve driver Corey Heim, who competes full time in NASCAR’s truck series and also spends several hours each week in the racing simulator to help Toyota’s Cup teams with their setups, will fill in for Jones as he makes his Cup debut in the No. 43 car this weekend at Dover Motor Speedway.
“I’ve got a spinal fracture that is going to keep me out of the car for Dover this weekend,” Jones said in a video posted on social media platforms. “I’m going to be taking it kind of week by week here and seeing how things go, but hope to back in the car as soon as I can.”
Jones suffered the compression fracture in a lower vertebra, according to the team, and will be at the track Sunday for the race to watch the team and help Heim.
“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.”
The 21-year-old Heim, a top Cup prospect, has six wins and 23 top-5s in 48 starts in trucks, where he drives for Tricon Garage. He is second in the current truck standings. Heim also has nine starts in the Xfinity Series, and will compete in both the Xfinity Series (for Sam Hunt Racing in its No. 26 car) and Cup this weekend at Dover.
