Matt Mills, driving in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, was involved in a dramatic incident at the Homestead-Miami Speedway that resulted in a brief hospital stay. The clash led to the driver being hospitalized due to smoke inhalation after his vehicle burst into flames, but after a gruelling couple of days, he’s released a statement to fans as he returns home.

Mills was discharged from the hospital today and was quick to share his relief and appreciation through a video update on social media.

ittle raspy, as you can hear, but just, all the overwhelming support, and text messages that I’ve got just mean so much to me. I definitely didn’t like being in the hospital for as long as I was or being in that situation. Having you guys there to support me and help me get through that, just I can’t thank you all enough,” Mills said.

The incident that led to his hospitalization saw him rear-ended by rookie driver Conner Jones at Turn 3, which sent him crashing into the barriers. The impact resulted in a fire engulfing his vehicle, leading to a tense moment as the flames were extinguished after Mills managed to navigate his car to a stop by Turn 4. Despite the chaos, Mills was remarkably composed, pulling himself from the fiery wreck before seeking medical attention.

As the dust began to settle, Conner Jones, the driver behind the wreck, found himself at the center of scrutiny. Driving for ThorSport Racing, the Virginia-born driver was handed a two-lap penalty and could potentially face additional sanctions as NASCAR completes its review of the incident.

“It’s been all [expletive] year. All [expletive] year. He’s [expletive] with me, I’m not going to [expletive] do it. I’m tired of it, I’m [expletive] tired of it,” Jones said ahead of the clash.

Following the race, and after he’d seen the Mills taken to hospital, Jones was quick to apologize, as previously reported by Newsweek Sports.

“I have not yet had the chance to personally apologize to Matt for the incident that took place during today’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but I intend to do so.

“Matt and I have encountered several on-track incidents this season, and I let my frustration get the best of me. I underestimated the impact my actions would have on Matt, and I deeply regret the consequences that followed.

“I would like to extend my sincerest apologies to Matt, Niece Motorsports, NASCAR, and my entire ThorSport Racing team for my unsportsmanlike behavior. My thoughts are with Matt during this time after hearing that he been taken to the hospital for further evaluation following the contact on the racetrack.

” For Mills, the scare of the crash hasn’t affected his determination to sit behind the wheel yet again.

“I’m more motivated than ever to keep doing my job and we’ve got two more races to try and get a good finish and get some momentum for that 2025 year. So, just ready to get home, get cleaned up, and just continue to recovery process, and see y’all in Martinsville,” he declared, confirming he’ll be joining the grid this coming weekend.

Mills races for Niece Motorsports, steering the No. 42 J.F. Electric/Utilitara Chevrolet Silverado. As he gears up for a return at the Martinsville Speedway, he looks to close his 2024 season on a promising note.