Conner Jones suspended after accident at Homestead-Miami

NASCAR took disciplinary action against Conner Jones, 18, after an incident in the NASCAR Truck Series race at Homestead-Miami that left Matt Mills hospitalized. During the battle for 17th place, Jones hit the rear of Mills' truck entering Turn 3, causing Mills' vehicle to crash into the wall and catch fire.

Mills was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, where he remained under observation for two nights. Although he was able to exit the truck on his own, the damage from the accident was significant.

Background of the conflict between Jones and Mills

This crash between Jones and Mills was not an isolated event; the two have had several on-track incidents throughout the season. However, this last accident was enough for NASCAR to decide to suspend Jones, who will not be able to participate in the next championship race at Martinsville Speedway on November 1, 2024. His team, ThorSport Racing, has opted to replace him with Johnny Sauter.

Reactions after the accident

Conner Jones issued a statement after the accident, admitting that he did not foresee the consequences of his maneuver and expressed regret. He publicly apologized to Mills, his team, and NASCAR, acknowledging it had been a serious mistake.

On the other hand, Matt Mills, after being released from the hospital, posted a video thanking everyone for their support. Although his voice reflected the effects of the accident, he did not mention Jones in his statements. Despite the incident, he confirmed that he will return to compete in the next race.