Erik Jones Championship hopes come to an end at the Roval

By Sarah Handy, Staff Writer

CONCORD, N.C. – It didn’t take long for one of the playoff contenders to be involved in an on-track incident from Charlotte Motor Speedway’s road course Roval configuration. The caution waved 22 laps in with Joe Gibbs Racing’s own Erik Jones involved in a Turn 1 incident.

Trouble in Turn 1!

@AlexBowman88, @dennyhamlin, @JimmieJohnson, and others are involved! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Vs8Wcg4QYu

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 29, 2019

Jones entered Sunday’s Bank of American Roval 400 in a must win situation and with a 45-point deficit.

However, the 23-year old Michigan natives postseason came to an end after a lap 22 incident involving his No. 20 Craftsman Toyota Camry, as well as Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Alex Bowman with Jones Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Denny Hamlin also involved.

Ultimately, Jones was forced to take his No. 20 to the garage and will be left with a 40^th place finish.

UPDATE: @erik_jones is forced to take his No. 20 machine to the garage.

His #NASCARPlayoffs will come to an end today. pic.twitter.com/riuVIBTOhJ

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 29, 2019

“It’s frustrating. It’s frustrating not just to even have a chance throughout the whole race, you know. We didn’t make it to the first stage, and it wasn’t our fault. That’s probably the most frustrating part is getting taken out and nothing you can do about it.” said Jones.

It’s all about winning races for the remainder of the season for Jones and his Joe Gibbs Racing team.

“We’ve got really fast cars. I know we can probably go out and win some more races this year, which is I guess a consolation prize. I’d love to be moving forward here and challenging for the championship. I thought we could’ve went pretty deep this year, but it’s just the nature of the Playoffs.”

With the series heading to Dover International Speedway next weekend for Sunday’s Drydene 400, it will be all about Jones capturing his second win of the season thus far. He’ll head to Dover with one win (Darlington), nine Top-5s, and 13 Top-10s.