Erik Jones Aims for May 12 Return at Darlington After Back Injury Clearance
Erik Jones is eyeing a comeback to racing on May 12 at Darlington, opting out of this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway as a precaution. Doctors have given him the green light to resume racing following his recovery from a back injury.
His Legacy Motor Club team announced the decision on Thursday, revealing that Corey Heim will step in for Jones in the No. 43 Toyota for the AdventHealth 400 on Sunday. Heim, aged 21, made a solid Cup debut last week at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway, qualifying 32nd and finishing 25th in a race free of incidents.
Jones suffered a compression fracture in his lower vertebra during a crash at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on April 21. In the later stages of the race, John Hunter Nemechek’s car made contact with Bubba Wallace’s car, which then struck Jones’ car and sent it into the outside wall.
Despite missing the race, Jones was present at Dover last weekend to support Heim and the team and plans to do the same in Kansas City, Kan.
“Regarding my return, it’s a week-by-week evaluation,” Jones mentioned at Dover. “Thankfully, my injury is on the less severe side, so we’ll monitor how it’s healing and how I’m feeling. I’m improving day by day.”
Jones has secured one top-10 finish in 11 starts this season and currently sits in 23rd place, trailing leader Kyle Larson by 229 points in the NASCAR Cup Series standings.
