Legacy Motor Club announced on Tuesday that Erik Jones would miss this weekend’s race at Dover Motor Speedway due to a compression fracture in his lower vertebra. In his place, Corey Heim will step in to race the No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE. The team did not announce when they expect Jones to return.
Erik’s long-term health is our number one priority. 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.
Jimmie Johnson (Legacy Motor Club Co-Owner)
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Erik Jones posted a brief video on social media following the announcement. He expressed his gratitude for support from Legacy Motor Club along with some details on his specific injury. He described his timeline as “Week to Week”.
I’ve got a spinal fracture that is going to keep me out of the car for Dover this weekend. Going to be taking it week-by-week to see how things go…I’ll be in Dover this weekend supporting Corey [Heim] in the No. 43 car to try to get them out there and running well this weekend while I can’t be in.
Erik Jones
Many have pointed out how back injuries can keep drivers out of the car for multiple at a time. Denny Hamlin missed 4 races in 2013 due to a compression fracture in his lower back, and Aric Almirola missed 7 races in 2017 due to a fractured T-5 vertebra. However, it’s unclear how Erik’s injury compares to these other two.
Karl Lambert is sending his well wishes to Erik Jones.
Checkered Bets is sad for Erik, but, he is excited to see Corey Heim racing this weekend.
Kenny Fowler also sends his well wishes while being excited for Corey Heim’s debut.
DennyDeliversYT is excited for Corey Heim.
Brad Keselowski expresses his sympathies and well wishes.
Bumblebee48 is hoping Jones gets better soon.
Ancient World Gaming is hoping that Jones recovers quickly.
Eileen Riegert is hoping Jones gets well soon.
Stay tuned to the Daily Downforce for the latest updates on Erik Jones and other NASCAR news.
As the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season gets underway, The Daily Downforce is once again tracking how fans feel about race broadcasts throughout the year, just as we did last year. This ratings tracker exists to capture fan feedback in a clear, consistent way across the entire season for each TV partner.
After each Cup Series race weekend, we will post a fan poll asking one simple question: “How would you rate this weekend’s Cup Series broadcast?” And fans can vote and comment based on their overall viewing experience. This article will be updated weekly with the most recent race’s numbers added to the tracker.
Participation is quick and open to everyone.
| Week | Network | Race | Votes | Good | Average | Bad | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FOX | Bowman Gray Clash | 368 | 16% | 43% | 42% | Check the Poll HERE |
| 2 | FOX | Daytona 500 | 989 | 42% | 46% | 12% | Check the Poll HERE |
Remember to follow The Daily Downforce on X to catch each weekly poll, share your thoughts, and be part of the conversation.
A new trailer revealed that NASCAR will be a part of The Crew Motorfest’s upcoming free season 9 update.
Will you be playing The Crew for this new update? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Denny Hamlin defends Riley Herbst, Brad Keselowski is furious, and Kyle Busch leaves everyone debating what it means to truly compete for a Daytona 500. The final lap at Daytona International Speedway sparked multiple completely different controversies that say a lot about modern superspeedway racing.
At superspeedways, instinct rules everything. Herbst reacted late, Keselowski paid the price, and Hamlin backed his guy. Meanwhile, Busch lifted from 25th, avoided the wreck, and gained ten spots, a move that looks smart in hindsight but could have backfired badly. In a new points-heavy format, are drivers thinking differently? We break down both moments, what they really mean, and whether everyone involved might actually have a point. Plus, early Cup Series power rankings to wrap it up.
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