NASCAR has suspended 18-year-old Conner Jones for one race following an intentional wreck that resulted in Matt Mills being hospitalized. The incident occurred during the Homestead Truck race while Jones and Mills were battling for 17th place. As they approached Turn 3, Jones bumped into Mills, causing Mills’ truck to spin and collide with the wall, igniting into flames.
Mills managed to exit the wreckage on his own but was hospitalized for two nights due to smoke inhalation. Following the crash, NASCAR penalized Jones by holding him two laps behind during the race.
In a statement released after the incident, Jones expressed remorse, stating that he underestimated the consequences of his actions and apologized to Mills, Niece Motorsports, NASCAR, and his own team at ThorSport Racing for his unsportsmanlike conduct.
Despite the serious nature of the crash, Mills, who has had previous altercations with Jones, thanked supporters in a video message after being discharged from the hospital. He described the situation as “definitely scary” but did not mention Jones directly.
With Jones suspended, veteran driver Johnny Sauter will take over the No. 66 truck for the upcoming race at Martinsville. Sauter, a former Truck Series champion with over 300 career starts, has previously raced for ThorSport.
