That one was tough to watch.
Of course Talladega is known for some spectacular crashes, with the NASCAR Cup Series cars running inches apart at over 190 miles an hour. And yesterday’s Geico 500 was no exception.
The race ended with a massive pileup as the cars raced to the checkered flag, a wreck that saw Corey LaJoie cross the finish line on his side and most of the field damaged after Michael McDowell tried to hold off Brad Keselowski for the win.
But the hardest hit of the day may have been this one suffered by the driver of the #43 car, Erik Jones, with just a handful of laps to go in the race.
Bubba Wallace got into the back of Jones and turned him hard right into the outside wall, in a scene that was eerily reminiscent of Dale Earnhardt’s fatal crash in the 2001 Daytona 500.
Jones miraculously was able to walk away from the crash, and gave an interview with FOX after being released from the infield care center. But later, he ended up going back to the care center to be evaluated further, and was transported to a local hospital.
Luckily, his Legacy Motor Club team announced that Jones was released from the hospital and was traveling home last night. But the in-car video and audio from the wreck really shows you just how brutal of a hit it was.
Immediately after crashing into the wall, Jones keys up his mic and is struggling to get out his words:
“I don’t know if I’m alright.”
It clearly knocked the breath out of the driver, and his team immediately begins calling for an ambulance to meet Jones as he calls for help once again.
“I need help. My back…”
It’s tough to watch, but it’s also a testament to the fact that Jones was able to walk away from a wreck that probably wouldn’t have been survivable just two decades ago.
Hopefully his injuries aren’t too bad and Jones is ready to go when the Cup Series takes the track at Dover this weekend.
But I’m sure he’s feeling that one today…
