DARLINGTON, South Carolina — Erik Jones, who was authorised to compete in last Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway, showed courage by exercising discretion rather than fear.
Jones missed the last two races at Dover and Kansas due to a compression fracture of his lower vertebrae sustained in a high-speed contact with the outside wall during a multicar crash on April 21 at Talladega.
This weekend, he will make his comeback to Darlington Raceway, the scene of two of his three career Southern 500 victories.
Before qualifying on Saturday at Darlington, Jones stated, “There was probably a possibility coming back right away with the injury, but Dover was not a place where that was going to happen.” “Even Kansas presented difficulties because to its rapid speed and high likelihood of incidents occurring—which may not always be your fault.
I think you have some degree of influence over your own fate when you come to Darlington. That kind of accident is less likely. Additionally, after three weeks, I feel 100% and think we are on the safe side of 100%.
There’s always an appraisal following a big collision, and Jones’ Legacy Motor Club team has adjusted the No. 43 Toyota to make Jones more comfortable.
Jones clarified, “We’ve altered the seat quite a bit. “That seat will be used for its first race. Almost all of my racing career has been spent in a very different situation than this one. Individuals who have experienced a comparable injury have also undergone a similar adjustment in their seating arrangement.
