By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
With all the focus targeting toward the Championship 4, no other driver in the series could have felt more alienated than Erik Jones.
Standing as the only driver for Joe Gibbs Racing not to advance to the championship finale Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, he had a lot to prove.
And prove he did. Starting 16th, Jones ended the 400-mile night in third spot, his first top-five finish since winning at Darlington in September.
“We definitely wish we would have been in [the Championship 4],” Jones told Kickin’ The Tires. “I really wish now because we would have had a shot at it.”
Capping off a 1-2-3 finish for JGR, Jones was happy to see Kyle Busch take home the big crown.
“I’m glad to see Kyle win,” he said. “He was just as deserving as those other guys. Hopefully, next year we can put ourselves in the same spot those guys were in.
“It’s a tough weekend as it is. You come into the weekend with those guys running for that championship, the focus isn’t really on us. You have to work a little more within your group to improve.”
Fast speed was not a given from the drop of the green flag for Jones. Struggling under the sun, his No. 20 Toyota got better and better.
“We started the race off not where we needed to be,” he said. “But when Stage 3 rolled around, we really got dialed in. It changed a lot as it cooled down and got into the night. The top really came in for us in Turns 1,2. We just gained grip, you had to free up a lot as the day went to get it turning better and better.
“The whole last stage was a lot of run, passing a lot of cars. Running a fine line up against the wall. It was enjoyable, it’s nice to end the season right.”
Sunday’s season-ending run topped Jones’ career-high in top fives (nine in 2018 to 10 in 2019). Returning to JGR in 2020, Jones was grateful to end his second year with the team on a big high note.
“You don’t want to go out quietly,” he said. “It’s tough. Those guys are getting the focus, all the stuff during the week. We’re working hard but you don’t always feel like you’re getting everything.
“It feels good to run well, it feels good to finish well and be in contention. We have a lot of potential in our group, we just have to put it together each week.”