Corey Heim to Drive No. 43 at Kansas; Jones Set for Darlington Return

After suffering a compression fracture to a lower vertebra in a multi-car accident at Talladega Superspeedway on April 21, Erik Jones has been cleared by doctors and approved by NASCAR to return to NASCAR Cup Series competition.

However, out of an abundance of caution, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB has elected to put reserve driver Corey Heim back behind the wheel of the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE for Sunday's AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway, giving Jones an additional week to rest in preparation for a return at Darlington.

“Erik Jones has been cleared to race by doctors and approved to return by NASCAR, but out of an abundance of caution the team has opted for Jones to rest for another event. Corey Heim will drive the No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE at Kansas Speedway this weekend,” a statement from LEGACY MOTOR CLUB reads.”

“Jones will attend the race at Kansas Speedway to support crew chief Dave Elenz and the No. 43 team and plans to return to the driver’s seat next weekend at Darlington Raceway — a track where he has two NASCAR Cup Series victories."

A representative from NASCAR confirms to Racing America that LEGACY MOTOR CLUB's decision to sideline Erik Jones for Sunday's race at Kansas, despite him being cleared to return, will not impact the driver's post-season waiver status.

Heim, a regular in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driving for TRICON Garage, finished 25th in his series debut last weekend at Dover Motor Speedway after an ill-timed caution disrupted the final cycle of green-flag stops.

The 21-year-old racer was named the reserve driver for both LEGACY MOTOR CLUB and 23XI Racing before the start of the season. Sunday will mark his second NASCAR Cup Series start, and first on an intermediate track.