Extra Seat Time Benefits Jones at The Glen

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

Extra seat time at Watkins Glen International kept Erik Jones up front in the Go Bowling at The Glen. The second-year Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver competed in two of the three NASCAR events at the 2.45-mile, seven-turn road course this weekend.

In the run to the finish, Jones battled with Martin Truex, Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Kyle Busch and Daniel Suarez, among others. His No. 20 buyatoyota.com Toyota Camry slipped away from Truex and into the clutches of Suarez. The duo battled until the field became spread far apart. Busch, who had to make an extra pit stop, breezed by Jones in the waning laps, leaving his teammate fifth at the checkered flag.

Throughout the first two stages, Jones fought hard in the top-five, often side-by-side with eventual winner Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, and Truex. In both stages crew chief Chris Gayle had his sophomore driver follow the strategy of Busch, Elliott, and Hamlin. The strategy left Jones fourth at the end of the second stage.

Jones’ performance was, in part, due to extra seat time as he ran the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in the Great Outdoors RV Superstore 100. In that race, he led seven laps driving for DGR-Crosley Group, but ended up 19^thafter a miscommunication about when to pit.

“Ran the K&N race on Friday, I think that helped,” Jones admitted. “A combination of things, having a little experience here ,and having a good Toyota Camry to get around here was the two things that you need. I don’t consider myself a road course racer and you know we’re working that way to get better on those things. I feel like I put in a lot of work on it. It’s rewarding when you can run well. That’s two top-fives in a row for us.”

The fifth-place finish was the fourth top-five of the season for Jones. He moves up to 13^thin the Championship Points Standings, 362-points behind Points leader Busch. Jones is locked into the Playoffs by virtue of his win at Daytona.

Elliott’s win drops Jones from sixth to seventh among drivers that have Playoff Points. He has five Playoff Points to Elliott’s eight. Both drivers still trail the ‘big three’ with Busch having 35, Kevin Harvick 33, and Truex 27 Playoff Points.