Erik Jones showed why he is the future of NASCAR Friday night. The 18-year old held off two of NASCAR’s most experienced veterans at Texas Motor Speedway to win the NASCAR XFINITY Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 300. Jones took the lead for the final time with 50 laps to go passing Dale Earnhardt Jr. and beat Brad Keselowski on a late race restart to secure his first career XFINITY Series victory.
Jones led at the start after winning the pole, but Earnhardt took the lead by lap 10. Behind them It was Keselowski who was putting on a show in the early going. Keselowski was sent to the back of the field for unapproved adjustments prior to the race. By lap 26 he was inside the top 10 and on lap 47 took the lead from Earnhardt. Jones retook the lead after a round of stops on lap 68 until Keselowski went back to the point on lap 85.
Earnhardt Jr. retook the lead on a restart on lap 137 with Jones close behind. MORE>>>
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
- NASCAR to debut new short track package at Phoenix - February 28, 2023
- The Wrench Who Stole Racing - December 16, 2022
- Matt DiBenedetto’s excellent run comes to abrupt, violent end - February 17, 2019
