Photo Credit: Mike Holtsclaw/OnPitRoad.com
Erik Jones, driver of the No. 20 Game Stop Toyota, for Joe Gibbs Racing in the XFINITY Series is in the midst of his first full year in the XFINITY Series as he drove for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Camping World Truck Series last year, winning the championship. Jones is one of many drivers whose had success with the shortened race-heat format, which could be as it reminds him of the length of the truck events.
“Yeah, that was probably my favorite part of the heat race format was the short main and again here at Richmond we have a really short main with only 140 laps,” Jones said. “I think really all of the drivers liked it. It kind of felt more like a – honestly for me it felt more like a Truck race. It was pretty close to a Truck race distance which did create some urgency in general just having to stay upfront. We only had two pit stops and we’ll only have two pit stops here at Richmond again and that’s a pretty narrow window to make yourself better if you’re not where you want to be.
“I think it’s cool. I think it’s a neat thing to do. I think the shorter races is something we as drivers enjoy. I think fans enjoy it as well. And just that dash to the finish running as hard as you can is pretty neat. Bristol was a part of that – tire wear at Bristol isn’t that great so you can run pretty hard for the majority of the race and not have to worry about fall off and really dash like that for the whole race. But, I think you’ll see a lot of the same here at Richmond with an only 140 lap main as well.”
For the first time this year the XFINITY Series is using heat races and a shortened main event to set the fields for the Dash for Cash races. Jones played the first round to his advantage, scoring the victory at Bristol Motor Speedway.
“Well, I think it gives people just a reason to watch,” Jones said. “If you think about something different that a fan sees in a format of the race I think that’s just another reason to tune in and check out and see what they think of it. At least as a fan that’s what I would see from it from the outside is hey, they’re doing something different. Why not tune in and check it out and see how it plays out? I think it’s definitely a step in the right direction. I think trying something – there’s nothing bad about the heat race format in general from Bristol. I enjoyed the fact, like we were talking about a second ago, the short main and having that 50 laps to go out and run, come in and try to make your stuff a little bit better before the race was I think my favorite part. Just getting to run a little bit and coming back in and making an adjustment and going at it for the future.”
Qualifying is a huge thing for drivers as they will find out where they will start the race. If you have a good qualifying run then you will have a good starting position; however, if you have a bad qualifying run then you will have a bad starting position for the race.
“It does and I think it affects more of how you race the heat race,” Jones said. “Fortunately, I started on the pole of the heat race and ran up there the whole time so I didn’t have to worry about it. I think if you were back in traffic racing, there’s definitely times where you can’t do some of the moves you try to do in the race because you can’t wreck. You’re not trying to wreck for sure. It’s just like any other heat race, Saturday night I can think back to five or six years ago racing at my home track in Michigan running heat races, you can’t tear your stuff up, but you still want to go out and get the best finish you can and start as high as you can in the main event. It changes you racing a little bit, but I think it makes qualifying a little more important in general as well.”
So far this season Jones has had some pretty decent races beyond his win at Bristol in posting five top-five finishes. A lot of people are wondering if he will make the jump to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series if he continues to do well in the XFINITY Series or if we will stay where he is for a few season before making the jump.
“Yes and no, I think back a couple years ago and I had a time table and said to myself that I want to be here by this time and I want to be to Cup by this time, but as I kind of moved forward and got into the Truck Series and then the XFINITY Series and got with these teams, I’ve learned that it’s not my choice,” Jones said. “I’m just racing for these guys and it’s up to the sponsors, it’s up to the team owners and it’s up to opportunities and spots being open. I think there’s a plan in place for me at some point. I’m not sure 100 percent what it is, but I’m along for the ride right now and truly enjoying my time in the XFINITY Series and going out and being competitive every week and being in contention to win is a pretty cool opportunity for me in general.”
