News:
Erik Jones Finishes 24th at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Date: August 2, 2020


Event: Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 (Round 20 of 36)


Series: NASCAR Cup Series


Location: New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1.058-mile Oval)


Format: 301 laps (3 Stages: 75 laps / 185 laps / 301 laps)


Start/Finish: 17th/24th (Running, Completed 300 of 301 laps)


 


Race Winner:  Brad Keselowski


Stage 1 Winner: Denny Hamlin  


Stage 2 Winner: Brad Keselowski


 


Stage 1 Recap (Laps 1 – 75)




  • Erik Jones and the No. 20 Toyota Camry team started the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway from the 17th position and finished stage one in 14th place.

  • Racing at the New England short track, Jones rolled off from the 17th position and moved in to the top 10 on lap 10.

  • The first caution of the race waved on lap 16 for teammate Kyle Busch and Jones pitted for four tires and adjustments. Unfortunately, Jones slid through the pit box and was penalized one lap for pitting outside the box. The race resumed on lap 21 with Jones in the 37th position as the only car one lap down.

  • The caution again waved on lap 30 for the scheduled competition caution. Jones received the “Lucky Dog” and returned to the lead lap. The team called Jones to pit road for four tires, fuel and a set of adjustments to help with the handling. Jones restarted the race on lap 34 from the 31st position.

  • Struggling with the handling of the No. 20 Camry, Jones was scored 23rd when the caution waved on lap 62. Telling the team his Camry was a handful, Jones pitted for four tires, fuel and adjustments. The race restarted on lap 67 with Jones scored 18th.

  • The stage ended on lap 75 with the No. 20 Toyota Camry team in the 14th position. The team opted to stay out under the caution period.



Stage 2 Recap (Laps 76 – 185)




  • Jones started the second stage from the 11th position and finished the stage in 25th.

  • Opting to stay out under the caution period, Jones restarted the race on lap 82 from the 11th position.

  • Reporting he was plowing tight, Jones slipped to 17th before the caution waved on lap 92. Crew chief Chris Gayle called Jones to pit road for four tires, fuel and adjustments. The race restarted on lap 100 with Jones in the 25th position.

  • With the handling of the No. 20 Camry continuing to be a handful for Jones, the team slipped to 28th by lap 125 and on lap 141 the leader passed Jones to put him one lap down.

  • The caution waved on lap 171 and the team opted to stay out and take the wave around to return to the lead lap. The race restarted on lap 176 with Jones in the 24th position and another quick caution on lap 178 allowed the No. 20 team to pit for four tires, fuel and multiple adjustments. Jones returned to the track and restarted the race from 22nd on lap 183.

  • The stage ended on lap 185 with Jones in the 25th position. Jones stayed out under the caution.


 


Stage 3 Recap (Laps 186 – 301)




  • Jones started the final stage from the 22nd position and finished the race with a 24th-place finish.

  • With the handling improving, Jones was able to move in to the top 15 and was running in the 12th position when the caution waved on lap 204. Jones pitted for four tires, fuel and adjustments. As the No. 20 was leaving the pit stall, contact with a competitor caused damage to the No. 20 Camry and forced Jones back to pit road for repairs. The race resumed on lap 208 with Jones in the 29th position.

  • Advancing to as high as 13th, the handling of the No. 20 Camry again started to go away and Jones slipped outside the top 20 as the race continued under a long green-flag run.

  • Running in the 23rd position, the leader passed Jones on lap 266, dropping the No. 20 Camry to one lap down.

  • Jones finished the race in the 24th position.


 


Additional Notes: 




  • Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin finished second, Martin Truex, Jr. finished third and Kyle Busch finished 38th.



Up Next: The NASCAR Cup Series now heads to Michigan International Speedway for a double-header race weekend. Teams will compete in the FireKeepers Casino 312 on Saturday, August 8, 2020, with the race beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET and the Consumers Energy 312 on Sunday, August 9, 2020 with the race beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET. Broadcast of both races will be on NBCSN, MRN radio and SIRIUS XM Channel 90.