NCWTS: Jones Scores Top Five at Bristol, Keeps Streak Alive

Start – 3rd

Finish – 5th

Laps Led – 0

Owner Points Position – ​7th

Brandon Jones, driver of the No. 33 MasterForce Chevrolet in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS), scored his career-best finish at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in his return to GMS Racing for the UNOH 200. Jones finished in the fifth position for his second top-five result of the 2015 season and the third consecutive top-five finish for the No. 33 GMS Racing team.

Equaling his career-best NCWTS starting position, Jones rolled from the third position for Wednesday night’s event and ran in the top five for nearly the entire 200-lap event. When the yellow flag was displayed on lap 33, Jones reported his MasterForce Chevrolet was tight on exit. Crew chief Shane Huffman made the call to stay out to maintain track position. Jones restarted from the third position and fell back to fifth place before the second caution of the night on lap 81. Facing the same tight on exit condition, the No. 33 team made an air pressure and track bar adjustment before sending Jones back on track with four tires and fuel to restart from the sixth position. Jones raced his way to the second position before the red flag period began on lap 166 for weather. After a 45-minute delay, Jones returned to the MasterForce Chevrolet to complete the remaining 34 laps. Jones was running in the fourth position when the last caution of the night on lap 197 set up a green-white-checkered finish. The Atlanta native held off his competitors to finish in the top-five at Thunder Valley. The No. 33 truck is seventh in NCWTS owner point standings after 14 races.

BRANDON JONES QUOTE:
“I’m really proud of our MasterForce team and how we ran tonight. We were up front the entire time and had a Chevrolet that was set up for a great finish. I knew we were going to have to work for position after the rain delay, but I had no complaints about the truck and was ready to fight for the win. I wish I had gotten a better restart on that last caution, but it’s nice to know I’m leaving with my best finish at Bristol. I’m glad I was able to pick up another top-five finish and add to the top-five streak this team started two weeks ago. We’ll move on to Canada and aim to make it four in a row.”