Not only will Corey Heim be making his NASCAR Cup Series debut in this Sunday’s Würth 400 at Dover Motor Speedway, but he’ll do so in a car paying homage to “The King,” Richard Petty.
Legacy Motor Club unveiled the special Dollar Tree paint scheme featuring the iconic Petty Blue and Day-Glo Red. The paint scheme celebrates Petty’s 200th win in the Cup Series, which came in the 1984 Firecracker 400 at Daytona.
No pressure, kid.
Erik Jones’ name will remain above the door, though he won’t take part in Sunday’s race. Jones announced Tuesday he suffered a spinal fracture during the Lap 157 wreck during this past Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
“I think the influence that the Pettys have had on NASCAR is self-explanatory. You can see it through everything that has happened,” Jones told NASCAR.com last week prior to his injury. “They have been around for 75 years with Lee, then on to Richard, Maurice, Kyle, Adam, and everyone else that has been involved. The years of racing they have put in, the success that they have had in the sport, and the hand that they have played in bringing the sport to its current height, I think is in huge part to the Petty Family.
“It has been such a huge honor for me to drive the No. 43 for them over the last handful of years while also getting to know them [the Petty Family] better and being a part of it; they are just a really neat family and a neat group of people.”
Corey Heim replacing Erik Jones in No. 43 Toyota at Dover
The accident occurred after the seven remaining Toyotas came to pit road together. Racing in a single-file line, the group stacked up going into Turns 3 and 4. Bubba Wallace, John Hunter Nemechek and Denny Hamlin were involved along with Jones. Jones hit the outside barrier head-on and was released soon thereafter from the infield care center. He told Regan Smith of FOX Sports at the time that he was a “little sore,” but he’ll “be alright.”
Jones was later transported to the UAB University Hospital in Birmingham for further evaluation and testing before returning home to Charlotte that night. He was officially diagnosed with a compression fracture in a lower vertebra after meeting with specialists in the Charlotte area.
With Jones sidelined, Legacy went with Heim to replace him behind the wheel of the No. 43 Toyota. The 21-year-old prospect has six CRAFTSMAN Truck Series wins, one coming this season at COTA. He has appeared in five Xfinity Series races this season, finishing a career best P4 at Richmond.
“Wishing Erik a quick and full recovery,” Heim posted on X Tuesday. “I’m ready to make the most of this opportunity.”
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