Conner Jones, a part-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitor for ThorSport Racing who was on the entry list for this weekend’s Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville Speedway, has been suspended by the sanctioning body for one race. The suspension of the 18-year-old driver stems from an incident from this past weekend’s NASCAR Truck Series event at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Officially, Jones was suspended for a violation of sections 4.3.A, and 4.4.B of the NASCAR Member Code of Conduct.
In Saturday’s Baptist Health 200, Jones was upset with how he perceived he was being raced by Niece Motorsports driver Matt Mills, so he decided to nudge Mills out of the way in Turns 3 and 4 on Lap 76 of the event. The contact sent Mills skidding hard into the outside wall.
Video: Conner Jones Eliminates Matt Mills from Homestead Truck Race
The contact with the wall caused a fire to break out under the hood of Mills’ No. 42 truck. Due to the smoke from the fire, Mills suffered smoke inhalation, which led to him spending the next two days in a local area hospital recovering.
Mills was released from the hospital on Monday afternoon.
On Tuesday, NASCAR’s Brad Moran explained on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that the sanctioning body was further looking into the incident between Jones and Mills to determine if additional penalties were necessary. Ultimately, NASCAR decided Jone definitely crossed the line Saturday at Homestead.
ThorSport Racing has yet to comment on the suspension of Jones, but an updated entry list for Friday’s race at Martinsville Speedway lists Johnny Sauter, who was scheduled to drive the No. 16 Hattori Racing Toyota, as the driver of the No. 66 ThorSport Ford.
In addition to the suspension for Jones, NASCAR also issued a one-race suspension for Front Row Motorsports NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Dylan Cappello. The crew chief of the No. 38 Ford F-150 was suspended after the No. 38 truck was found to be in violation of Sections 14.3.4.A&B of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rule book, which pertains to unsecured ballast.
The No. 38 driver Layne Riggs, and the No. 38 team will also be docked 10 championship driver and championship owner points for the infraction as well.
Additionally, NASCAR handed out four fines in its weekly penalty report for unsecured lug nuts in post-race inspection following Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events at Homestead.
Mardy Lindley, the crew chief of the No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, Andy Street, the crew chief of the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, and Joe Williams, the crew chief of the No. 39 RSS Racing Ford were all fined $5,000 for an unsecured lug nut on their cars, while Charles Walter, the crew chief of the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, was fined $2,500 for an unsecured lug nut on his truck.
