The return of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) to Iowa Speedway in Newton means the return of 17-year-old Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) driver, Erik Jones. Making his fourth of five scheduled starts in the No. 51 Toyota Care Tundra, the rookie from Byron, Michigan is eager to get back in the field and harvest his first NCWTS victory during the Iowa 200 on Sunday, Sept. 8.
Competing at the Newton, Iowa facility earlier this year, Jones was the talk of the town after battling against series regulars Timothy Peters and Ty Dillon for an impressive second-place finish. Unlike in July, the green flag is set to drop mid-afternoon when the sun is high over the .875-mile oval which is known to create slick track conditions. However, Jones is calm and cool about the situation with his experience in the ARCA Racing Series during the 2012 season.
Since his last visit in the NCWTS, Jones has been busy behind the wheel of a Venturini Motorsports Toyota Camry in the ARCA Racing Series. Appearing first at Pocono Raceway, the “Tricky Triangle” tricked him out of a victory for the second time this year. Leading the majority of the 50-lap race, Jones came to a halt with two laps remaining due to an untimely mechanical issue. Determined to not let another race slip through his fingers, Jones claimed his first ARCA victory a week later in front of a home state crowd at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway.
In three Truck Series starts this season, the teenage hot shoe has yet to finish outside the top 10. He came home ninth in his series debut at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in April and followed it up the following week with another ninth-place finish at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway. After a two-month hiatus, Jones produced his best performance to date – a runner-up finish at Iowa Speedway in Newton. The talented youngster aims to keep his streak alive in Sunday’s 200-lap event and hopes to do so by finishing one position better this time around and end the day with his first trip to victory lane.
Concluding the Fan Appreciation 200 presented by New Holland on Sunday, Jones will appear once more in the NCWTS during the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix (Az.) International Raceway on Friday, Nov. 8.
KBM PR
