NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Conner Jones has been suspended for one race after intentionally crashing driver Matt Mills in Saturday’s race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, NASCAR announced on Wednesday.
The move comes three days after Jones turned Mills’ No. 42 in turns three and four at the 1.5-mile oval, sending Mills’ truck hard into the outside wall. Mills was admitted to a local hospital following the incident.
NASCAR’s decision to suspend Jones comes at a time when driver etiquette — especially in NASCAR’s lower ranks — appears to be at an all-time low. Incidents like Jones’ have spiked in recent years, and while NASCAR has taken a firm stance as times have changed, driver etiquette doesn’t seem to be improving.
The issue isn’t limited to the Truck Series, either. Austin Dillon intentionally wrecked Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin in August to win at Richmond. Dillon won the race, and while his playoff berth was revoked, NASCAR clarified that long-term, permanent ramifications for committing such acts weren’t in the cards. In 2022, Bubba Wallace intentionally wrecked Kyle Larson in Las Vegas. In 2023, Chase Elliott intentionally wrecked Hamlin at the Coca-Cola 600. The penalty for both drivers? A one-race suspension.
Jones has a history of frustrating his competitors throughout the 2024 season, and his temper boiled over, causing him to commit an act that no professional driver should ever consider.
NASCAR did the right thing by penalizing Jones, but if it truly wants to send a message, it must penalize incidents like this with more severity. Whether it be huge fines, crippling points penalties, or a multi-race suspension, NASCAR must make it clear that using a vehicle as a weapon has no place in a professional racing league.
