Erik Jones' pit crew member hospitalized at Gateway remains sidelined for Nashville

Erik Jones will be without pit crew member Thomas Hatcher for another race. According to NBC’s Dustin Long, the front tire changer remains out for this weekend’s trip to Nashville Superspeedway for the Ally 400.

Hatcher left Gateway Motorsports Park in an ambulance during the Enjoy Illinois 300 after getting tangled up with the tire carrier during a pit stop. It was initially believed that Hatcher was struck by Austin Dillon’s car, but that wasn’t the case.

The front tire changer missed the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma, as well.

Incident happened at Gateway. He previously missed Sonoma race weekend.

— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) June 20, 2023

After Hatcher arrived at the hospital, Legacy Motor Club released a statement on his status.

“Thomas Hatcher, front tire changer on the No. 43 team who was injured on pit road in yesterday’s NASCAR Cup Series race, was treated and released from St. Louis University Hospital last night. We are relieved he is resting and recovering at home in NC,” the statement said.

Because of the severity of the accident, Hatcher was also placed in NASCAR’s concussion protocol. Fortunately, he didn’t sustain any serious injury as a result of the incident.

Erik Jones comments on scary nature of pit crew member’s injury

Seeing a teammate leave a racetrack in an ambulance can be a pretty rattling experience. Jones, himself, was having some difficulty processing all that happened on pit road that day.

“It’s hard to tell,” Jones said afterward. “I’ve got to really watch it back. The 3 was, obviously, coming in in front of us. I don’t know. Beyond that, I was gapped to him and tried to get in my box like normal. Obviously, they were coming around and were in front of the car as I was coming in the box. Like I said, I’ve got to see the video to see truly what happened. … I’m just praying for him right now.

“They were all a little late coming around with the three in front of us,” Jones said. “We were coming in like normal. Like I said, it’s hard for me — it all happened so quick, right? I can’t really put it all together. I’ve got to see it and watch it back. But thinking about Hatcher and his family and hope to talk to him here, soon.”

Jones has appeared in 16 races during the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series regular season. He’s still searching for his first win and has a pair of finishes inside the top-10.