NASCAR is set to take an additional look at an incident between Conner Jones and Matt Mills from Saturday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Brad Moran, Managing Director of the NASCAR Cup Series, joined SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90) to talk about the weekend’s events and made mention of the incident.
“As we know, the Truck Series is a development series and we want our drivers coming through there to race on Sunday,” said Moran. “As you saw on Sunday, our drivers did not run over each other and we need to prevent that from happening in the lower divisions.”
Mills and Jones tangle as part of a Lap 76 incident in the Baptist Health 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, which saw the No. 42 Chevrolet slam the Turn 3 SAFER Barrier and erupt into a fireball.
In the aftermath of the on-track incident, the FOX Sports broadcast of the event played the radio communications from Jones, on which the 18-year-old goes on a tirade about the driver of the No. 42.
“It’s been all fucking year. All fucking year. He’s fucked with me, I’m not going to fucking do it. I’m tired of it, I’m fucking tired of it,” Jones said on the radio.
Jones is currently contending for Rookie of The Year honors in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, where he competes part-time for ThorSport Racing in the No. 66 Ford F-150.
“I think there have been some discussions earlier in the season with Conner Jones and unfortunately, what happened on Saturday was not acceptable,” said Moran. “The radio communication was not acceptable and the race director made that decision, which is well within the rule book, but we’re going to go back and look at it as well today to see if any further action needs to be taken.”
The accident sent Mills to Jackson South Medical Center, where he remained for two nights while doctors observed the 27-year-old driver’s oxygen levels due to smoke inhalation. The Lynchburg, Virginia-native was released from the hospital on Monday.
Conner Jones is currently entered in Friday’s Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville Speedway for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Whether or not Jones will compete, as a result of a NASCAR penalty, will be determined at a later date.
NASCAR typically confirms mid-week penalties on Tuesday or Wednesday.
