News:
Erik Jones Finishes 11th in Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Date: May 24, 2020

Event: Coca-Cola 600 (Round 7 of 36)

Series: NASCAR Cup Series

Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval)

Format: 400 laps (Stages: 100 laps/100 laps/100 laps/100 laps)

Start/Finish: 14th/11th (Running, Completed 405 of 405 laps)

 

Race Winner: Brad Keselowski

Stage 1 Winner: Alex Bowman

Stage 2 Winner: Alex Bowman

Stage 3 Winner: Joey Logano

 

Stage 1 Recap (Laps 1 – 100)

  • Erik Jones and the No. 20 DEWALT ATOMIC Thank You Heroes Toyota Camry team started Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway from the 14th position and finished stage one in 13th place.

  • Settling in for the longest race of the season, Jones slipped to 15th before the competition caution on lap 20. With his Camry on the tight side of handling, crew chief Chris Gayle made the call for four tires, fuel and adjustments. Unfortunately, the team was penalized for an uncontrolled tire on pit road and Jones had to start at the rear of the field.

  • With the race back under way on lap 27, Jones started his march from 32nd and was able to move up to 22nd before the caution waved on lap 48 for rain. As rain persisted, the race was put under red flag conditions for approximately one hour.

  • Following the rain and track drying efforts, the race resumed with teams hitting pit road for routine stops. Jones pitted for four tires, fuel and adjustments. The race restarted on lap 57 with the No. 20 team in 20th.

  • Jones moved in to the top 15 on lap 86 and was scored 13th when the caution waved on lap 96 for a single-car incident. The caution served as the end of the stage with Jones pitted for four tires and fuel.


 

Stage 2 Recap (Laps 101 – 200)

  • Jones started the second stage from the 12th position and finished the stage in sixth.

  • Stage two got underway on lap 106 with the DEWALT ATOMIC team in the 12th position. With the handling better during the run, Jones was able to move up to sixth before making a green-flag stop on lap 154 for four tires and fuel.

  • With the race staying green for the remainder of the stage, Jones was scored sixth when the caution waved on lap 200 to end the stage. Gayle called Jones to pit road for four tires and fuel.


 

Stage 3 Recap (Laps 201 – 300)

  • Jones started the third stage from fourth place and finished the stage in the seventh position.

  • The race restarted on lap 208 with Jones in the fourth position.

  • With the stage continuing under a long green-flag run, Jones moved in to second on lap 244 before making a green-flag pit stop on lap 255 for four tires, fuel and adjustments. Jones returned the track and once stops cycled through the field, was scored second on lap 263.

  • The caution waved on lap 276 for a single-car incident. Jones again pitted for four tires and fuel. With teams opting for varying pit strategies, Jones restarted the race on lap 281 in the 11th position.

  • As the stage continued, Jones was able to advance to seventh before the caution waved on lap 300 to end the stage. Gayle called Jones to pit road for four tires and fuel.


 

Stage 4 Recap (Laps 301 – 400)

  • Jones started the final stage from 14th place and finished the race in the 12th position.

  • The final stage of the 600-mile race started on lap 307 with Jones in the 14th position. Jones made his way to the top 10 by lap 311 and was scored seventh when the caution waved on lap 348. With the handling of the No. 20 Camry on the tight side, Jones pitted for four tires, fuel and a round of adjustments. After losing several positions on pit road, Jones restarted the race from 11th on lap 353.

  • Dropping to 17th following the restart, Jones was able to gain a few positions to 15th before the final caution waved on lap 398.

  • The race restarted for the final time on lap 403 for the first attempt at a green-white-checker finish with Jones in the eighth position. On old tires, Jones was able to finish the Coca-Cola 600 in the 11th position.


 

Additional Notes:

  • Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch finished fourth, Martin Truex, Jr. finished sixth and Denny Hamlin finished 29th.


 

Up Next: The NASCAR Cup Series stays at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Alsco 500(k) on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. The race will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 and PRN radio beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET.