DRIVER PROFILES
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T OYO TA
CREW CHIEF C H R I S G AY L E
Erik Jones spent much of 2019 not knowing if he
would be back at Joe Gibbs Racing in 2020. In early September, however, the youngster from Byron, Michigan, signed a contract extension with the organization owned by legendary NFL coach and NASCAR Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs. Jones, who made the playoffs and scored a lone victory in each of his first two NASCAR Cup Series seasons with JGR, could be poised for a truly breakout campaign this year – when the goal is to win multiple races and challenge for a championship. The past two seasons, Jones was eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs and finished 15th and 16th in the standings, respectively. “I’m excited to be staying with Joe Gibbs Racing and the 20 team and to continue the success that we have built over the last two years in the Cup Series,” Jones said. “I put my heart and soul into this and this race team. This is my living and how I want to make a career and what I want to do. I’ve been racing with JGR since 2014, and it’s really cool to be able to continue with the foundation we’ve built over the years and hopefully win more races and contend for championships together.” After earning NASCAR Cup Series career victory No. 1 in the July 2018 race at Daytona International Speedway, Jones returned to Victory Lane on Labor Day weekend 2019 by winning the prestigious Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway – a victory that undoubtedly helped shore up his plans for this season.
JUST GETTING STARTED PRIOR TO JOINING Joe Gibbs Racing’s NASCAR Cup Series program in an official capacity in 2018, Erik Jones was technically part of JGR’s driver development program when he won a Gander Truck Series title in 2015. Jones then earned four Xfinity Series victories on the way to a fourth-place championship finish for JGR in 2016. “Erik has accomplished so much in our sport already and yet, he really is just at the start of a long career,” team owner Joe Gibbs said.
PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES
