Strong Effort For Jones, But No Help Late At Daytona

Erik Jones (43) battles Chase Elliott at Daytona Int'l Speedway. (Matthew Thacker/Nigel Kinrade Photography)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – This season, Legacy Motor Club have both said and shown that they have the speed to become serious contenders in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Saturday night at Daytona Int’l Speedway on Saturday, Erik Jones’ strong effort proved just that.

Jones came home fifth in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 for his best finish in two months. It marked his first top five since June 28 at EchoPark Speedway near Atlanta, where he finished fifth.

While the Byron, Mich., native would’ve much rather won his way into the playoffs on Saturday, it is worth acknowledging the growth Legacy has had this summer.

If it weren’t for Jones receiving the short end of an aggressive late push by rival Kyle Larson, he might’ve had one of the best chances out of anyone left in the race at a win.

“It is what it is. It’s disappointing because we didn’t win or point ourselves into the playoffs,” said Jones. “But also we did everything right to win tonight, and put ourselves up front with a chance to win our way in.

“I need to talk to Kyle [Larson]. I think Kyle knows how to push and that was a little aggressive. He kept getting me a little more out of shape on each push, and that last one was just too much.”

Jones was running inside the top five for the majority of the final 45 laps. He worked the draft well, managed most runs from behind, and was executing all race long on pit road while working with non-Toyota teammates.

He even claimed the lead with 13 laps to go as one of only two Toyotas in the top 10 at that point.

However, things took a turn when Larson got behind the rear bumper of his No. 43 car. After multiple rear shoves that put Jones off balance in the outside lane, the limit finally showed itself.

Larson connected with Jones on lap 155, and it rocketed Jones in the direction of the outside wall. Luckily, he was able to stay out of the SAFER Barrier, which could’ve caused another massive wreck, but the damage already was done.

Jones went from second in line on the outside behind Ryan Preece to a non-factor in an instant.

Though he was shuffled to the back of the lead draft, Jones was able to work his way back towards the front to finish inside the top five. He knew, however, that it could have been so much more.

“[With the Kyle Larson situation] I just had to let it go and know we have to go down swinging at the end,” Jones said. “We had to give ourselves one more chance. You never know if guys are going to wreck and that can change things.

“Everything went right [afterward], and we got that third lane working enough where it made the middle lane nervous and pushing more,” he added. “That checked the middle up and they were bouncing off each other … and we used that momentum to our advantage.”

Despite the playoff disappointment, the 29-year-old led 10 laps at Daytona, his first laps led in a race since Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway back in March.

Also, two of Jones’ three top fives this season have come on superspeedways. The ninth-year driver collected his third career top five at the World Center of Racing Saturday night.

Even though there haven’t been victories and many laps led, Jones is still experiencing his best year since 2023. His average finish through 26 races is 19th place, the highest it's been since Legacy Motor Club joined Toyota last season.

Now Jones will turn to Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, where two of his three career Cup Series wins have come in the crown jewel Southern 500. Jones has led 132 laps in his career at the 1.366-mile, egg-shaped oval and has two top 10s there in the Next-Gen era.

“That result makes it a little harder [with how Daytona played out],” said Jones. “We’ll move on and try to get more.”

Coverage of the 76th Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington is slated for Sunday, Aug. 31 on USA, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.