Brandon Jones Wheels Mobil 1™ Tundra to Impressive Third-Place Finish

When rained washed out Friday’s qualifying session for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) N.C. Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway and the field was set per the NASCAR rule book, Brandon Jones and the No. 46 Mobil 1 Racing team were forced to start from the 28th position. The No. 46 team, which was competing in its first race of 2018, made the field with a provisional starting spot earned when owner-driver Kyle Busch won in his organization’s fourth entry at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway last August.
 
Once the rain subsided and the green flag dropped Friday night, Jones methodically maneuvered his way towards the front of the field in his second of five scheduled NCWTS starts for KBM this season. The NASCAR Xfinity Series regular finished Stage One in the 13th position, Stage Two in the ninth spot and by the time the seventh and final caution slowed the field with 15 laps remaining was scored in the fourth spot.
 
The late race caution set up an 11-lap dash to the finish. Jones gained one position on the restart and then with six laps to go made his way around Justin Haley for the second position. Despite a feverish attempt to hold off Busch for the runner-up spot in the closing, laps the No. 46 team ended the eventful day with an impressive third-place finish.
 
Stage One Recap: 
  • Despite finishing 12th and 13th respectively in Friday’s two practice sessions while getting acclimated with the No. 46 team, Jones was forced to use a provisional starting position when rain washed away qualifying.
  • The 21-year-old driver wasted little time charging to the front once the green flagged dropped, making his way up to the 14th position by the time the first caution of the race occurred on lap 21.
  • Jones communicated to crew chief Cody Glick that his Mobil 1 Tundra was “loose” before hitting pit road for four fresh tires, a full tank of fuel and a trackbar adjustment to try and improve the handling of his Toyota.
  • With a handful of trucks electing not to pit, Jones restarted from the 19th spot for the restart with four laps remaining in Stage One. He was able to pick up six positions and ended the initial stage in the 13th position. 
Stage Two Recap: 
  • Having pitted late in Stage 1, Glick elected to remain on track when pit road opened. The No. 46 Toyota was scored in the 11th spot when Stage Two went green on lap 37.
  • Over the course of the next 23 laps Jones would gain two spots and ended Stage Two in the ninth position. 
Final Stage Recap: 
  • The Georgia native brought his Toyota to the attention of his over-the-wall crew, who administered a four-tire and fuel stop with a trackbar adjustment before returning Jones to the track scored in the ninth position.
  • Jones was scored in the 11th spot when a one-truck accident slowed the field with 54 laps remaining. When pit road opened, the Mobil 1 Tundra got four fresh tires – with an air pressure adjustment – and a full tank of fuel. With a handful of trucks electing not to pit, the No. 46 Tundra was scored in the 14th position when the field went back green with 49 laps remaining.
  • After a strong restart, Jones quickly jumped back in the top 10 and was scored in the ninth spot when another one-truck spin slowed the field with 47 laps remaining. When one truck in front of him pitted, he moved up to the eighth spot for the lap-93 restart.
  • Another strong restart catapulted Jones to the fifth position, but he lost one spot before a debris caution slowed the field on lap 112
  • The No. 46 team started the 11-lap shootout to the finish from the sixth spot, made their way up to the runner-up finish and ultimately would end the eventful day with an impressive third-place finish.

KBM PR