The Truck Series race at Homestead Miami took a tragic turn when Conner Jones made contact with Matt Mills. It was a rough weekend for Matt Mills, driver of the No. 42 truck for Niece Motorsports, at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in Homestead, Michigan. On Saturday, October 26, Mills got tangled up with Conner Jones from ThorSport Racing in what appeared to be a payback move on Lap 76. NASCAR officials took notice and parked Jones for two laps as a result.

Although Jones was served a penalty, it was Matt Mills who got the shorter end of the stick. The accident caused his truck to catch fire and although he escaped without serious burns; he was taken to the hospital. Fans from all over started to pray for the safety of Mills while many others were unhappy with the punishment given to Conner Jones. But the situation took a turn for the worse when an update on Mills’ situation surfaced.

Matt Mills suffers from smoke inhalation

After the Homestead weekend, an update came through from Niece Motorsports as they revealed that Matt Mills will remain in the hospital for further observations. It turns out that the fire from the crash started filling the truck with smoke and before Mills could escape; he was exposed to an unhealthy amount of fumes. Smoke inhalation is one of the riskiest situations to tackle, as the doctors need to make sure that the patient is clear of harm now and in the future.

Niece Motorsports put out a statement on X, which then made its way to Reddit, where fans started to share their thoughts on the Jones and Mills crash. According to the statement from Niece Motorsports, “Matt Mills will again remain overnight at a local hospital for observation. Doctors continue to monitor Mills’ oxygen levels due to smoke inhalation.” Although it’s just one extra night of Mills staying in the hospital, fans cannot be blamed for being worried about his situation.

As of now, there has been no direct update from Mills on his situation and all we can do is wait for his recovery. The team’s statement further read, “Mills, driver of the No. 42 for Niece Motorsports, was transported on Saturday, October 26 and held for overnight observation after an incident in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Matt and team are thankful for the track safety crews, NASCAR medical team, and all hospital staff for the continued care.”

It’s obvious that Conner Jones had some amending to do and he did not shy away from acknowledging the crash he caused. Although he was served with a 2-lap penalty during the race, Jones put out a public statement to apologize to the Niece Motorsports driver. “I underestimated the impact my actions would have on Matt, and I deeply regret the consequences that followed,” said Jones. “I would like to extend my sincerest apologies to Matt, Niece Motorsports, NASCAR, and my entire ThorSport Racing team for my unsportsmanlike behavior.”

While Jones put out a public apology for causing the crash with Mills, his actions were not justified, according to fans. Many fans started to share their prayers and their thoughts on the incident in the comments section on Reddit and its clear that most of them are extremely unhappy with the way the situation turned out.

Fans stand for Mills as Conner Jones gets booed for causing the crash

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The aftermath of the Matt Mills and Conner Jones collision at Homestead-Miami had fans on the edge with strong reactions, many rallying behind Mills and calling out Jones for his role in the crash. One fan’s comment summed up the collective frustration, saying, “This is unbelievably unfair and sad for Mills.” It captured the shared sentiment among fans, who felt the consequences were stacked heavily against Mills despite him being the one hurt in the accident. They felt the two-lap penalty was not enough given the scale of consequences for Mills.

Other fans were quick to question Jones’ intentions and self-control, with one suggesting he “needs to go to mandatory anger management classes or something like that.” For fans, it wasn’t just about the on-track penalty; they wanted Jones to face the reality of how far his actions reached, especially when Mills was in the hospital fighting off the effects of smoke inhalation.

Some fans even took a creative twist, urging Jones to take responsibility on a whole new level: “Send the hospital bill to Conner Jones.” It was a clear call for accountability, highlighting that a two-lap penalty didn’t come close to the costs Mills was paying for someone else’s aggression.

One fan voiced the hope that this incident might be the catalyst for change in NASCAR’s rules: “Maybe this will be the moment that forces NASCAR to actually make a rule against retaliation.” The fanbase wasn’t just upset with Jones; they were frustrated with the leniency NASCAR has shown toward aggressive moves, hoping that Mills’ situation would spark new regulations around retaliation. Safety incidents such as this one have been catalysts for change in NASCAR. After Dale Sr.’s fatal crash, NASCAR brought in a new wave of safety regulations. Fans argue this incident with Mills should bring the sport’s focus to improving how drivers take safety.

Perhaps the most intense comment of all came from a fan who wanted the penalty to match the recovery time: “Every day in the hospital for Mills should be a one-race suspension for Jones.” Fans felt Jones’ punishment should reflect the long-lasting impact his actions had on Mills, pushing for consequences that extend beyond just a slap on the wrist.

With that said, do you think that Conner Jones deserves more than just the penalty that he received during the race? Share your thoughts in the comments below.