Top Dog: Erik Jones
As NASCAR Cup Series drivers returned from a rare weekend off, they were treated to a long night at Nashville Superspeedway with multiple weather delays before ultimately running the race to completion.
Flat track racing has lined up well with Erik Jones’ talents, and Nashville was no different. The Petty GMS Motorsports driver came up one spot short of earning a top 10, settling for 11th.
The first of several interruptions for weather in stage one impeded Jones’ progress from his 23rd starting spot to a stage one finish of 16th. A second and third caution for weather in stage two prompted Petty GMS to tweet a picture of what just about everybody was probably thinking at one point or another.
— Petty GMS (@PettyGMS) June 26, 2022
The delay from the rain and lightning forced teams to be on their toes with the race turning into a night race rather than the hotter conditions they faced all weekend. Jones’ No. 43 FOCUSfactor Chevrolet did not respond in favor of the changing conditions, causing him to slide outside the top 20 in stage two.
When awards are given out at the end of the year, the No. 43 pit crew deserves one for the most versatility. Just a few weeks ago, a jammed lug nut cost Jones several laps and led to the team doing a full-out operation on the wheel. At Nashville, Jones had re-entered the top 15 in the final stage when Ryan Blaney spun with just under 100 laps remaining.
As Jones pitted, fuel from the car ignited a flame in the box. Not only did the flame persist in the box, but it also glowed on the right rear quarter panel of the car the whole lap around. The heat forced Jones to have to pit a second time to change the left rear tire.
These boys are tough as nails, but 🤞 for no more adventures 😅 https://t.co/CfmVcJk6HX
— Petty GMS (@PettyGMS) June 27, 2022
Soon afterward, Jones radioed in that he believed that he was experiencing steering box failure. There were also fears that the brake rotors were warped. Despite the chaos, he flirted with the top 15 until a caution with eight laps to go.
The No. 43 team opted to pit for four fresh tires, and a crazy restart mid-pack allowed Jones to pounce for an impressive 11th-place result.
Jones now has three finishes of 14th or better in the last four races. A win is likely needed to make the playoffs, as he sits in 20th in the playoff standings, 58 points back of Kevin Harvick.
Underdog Highlights
Jones may have been the top…
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