Photo – ErikJonesRacing.com
While most teenage boys are sitting at home playing video games Erik Jones is on the racetrack propelling himself to championship after championship. His determination and passion for the sport has led him to winning the JEGS/CRA All-Star Tour and the Governors Cup 200 by the age of 15, then winning the biggest late model race in the country – The 45th Annual Snowball Derby at only 16 years of age. His charm and playful sense of humor has made him a favorite every weekend by not only fans but his competitors.
From the moment Erik strapped himself into a race car at the age of 7, he has done nothing but seek the checkered flag. He won his first championship in 2007 while running Quarter Midgets. From there he ventured into the Pure Stock division in a full body stock car at his local racetrack, Owosso Speedway. After winning his heat race the second night, he was asked to move up to the Street Stock class, where he continued to shine, and after winning his heat and feature race on the same night, went on to also win Rookie of the Year.
In 2010 Erik, at the age of 14, realized he was racing with a pack of men double his age in the ASA Late Model Series. He used his time at the racetrack watching and mimicking what the fast guys were doing. His patience paid off when he dominated the field at Dixie Motor Speedway and he became the youngest winner in the series history. During the season, he also had the most fast qualifying times and led the most laps of the entire series. Erik quickly followed that win up at Oktoberfest in Lacrosse, WI where he became the youngest feature winner in the 41 year history of the Oktoberfest Event.
Since 2010 was so rewarding, no one could have imagined the success this young driver would have in 2011. Erik competed in the JEGS/CRA All-Star Tour, and after it was all said and done, he took home seven Fast Time Awards, two Feature Wins, Led the Most Laps all season, and above all he was crowned the 2011 JEGS/CRA All-Star Tour Champion.
During the off season the team decided to start working on his Super Late Model package. Making his debut at Gresham Motor Speedway for the World Crown event Erik finished an impressive 5th place. But what happened next launched the career of this 15 year old.
On December 3, 2011 the team traveled to New Smyrna Speedway to compete in the respected Governor’s Cup 200. To prepare, Erik watched countless videos on the internet of races held at the track. Engraving the perfect line into his mind, he set out for his qualifying lap and threw down the second fastest lap of the evening. Erik saw this as a blessing since he preferred the high side of the track, and when the race went green he conquered what he studied so hard. Leading all 200 laps the 15 year old climbed out of his car and threw both of his hands in the air because he did the unthinkable. In only his second Super Late Model start he won a race that hadn’t been won by a non-Florida native in 30 years.
2012 was a season full of learning that ended up paying big in the end. Erik started his season by becoming the youngest driver to ever compete in the ARCA Racing Series. Teaming with Venturini Motorsports for ten races, he capped the year with four top-fives, five top-tens, and led an impressive 103 laps. Running a handful of Late Model races as well, victory didn’t come until the final, yet biggest, race of the season, the Snowball Derby. Erik started the 300 lap race in the ninth position, but with 20 laps to go he found himself battling side by side with one of the biggest names in NASCAR, Kyle Busch, for the victory. Bringing the entire crowd to their feet to watch what has become one of the greatest battles for the win, Erik held his ground against the NASCAR veteran to earn a place for his name on the Tom Dawson trophy.
Since then, Kyle Busch Motorsports announced they have signed a five-race deal for Erik Jones in the Camping World Truck Series beginning at Martinsville on April 6th.
Erik strives to be the best on and off the racetrack. The Byron, Michigan native is currently completing his high school years at Swartz Creek Academy. Erik has held his charity car show, “Cruise-In 4 Hunger”, for the past two years to provide support to the Meals on Wheels Association of America.
Erik Jones will be a guest on Fan4Racing Fan2Fan NASCAR Talk, Monday, April 1st at 8:30pm ET. Call 347-996-5176 to interact with Erik Jones during the Q&A segment of the show.
