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Austin Theriault suffers compression fracture

Chicagoland Speedway - Day 1

JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 18: Austin Theriault, driver of the #29 Cooper Standard Ford, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series American Ethanol E15 225 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 18, 2015 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Getty Images)

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Austin Theriault suffered a 10 percent compression fracture of his lower back in an accident during Saturday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, Brad Keselowski Racing confirmed early Sunday morning.

Theriault suffered the injury in a Lap 15 accident with teammate Tyler Reddick at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The team stated that Theriault underwent a comprehensive CT scan before he was released from University Medical Center early Sunday and would return to North Carolina to meet with an orthopedic specialist for further treatment.

The team stated that no other updates were expected today.

John Wes Townley won the race.

Theriault was injured after contact with Reddick’s truck sent Theriault’s Ford headfirst into a portion of the outside wall not protected by the SAFER barrier at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Reddick got loose in Turn 4 and came down the track, turning the No. 29 of Theriault toward the frontstretch wall.

The 21-year-old Theriault was helped from his truck by safety workers after the accident and slowly lowered him into a sitting position on the ground. He was placed on a backboard and loaded into an ambulance and taken to the infield care center. Theriault was then airlifted by helicopter to the hospital.

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