WATCH: Jones honors his father at Michigan race
NEWTON, Iowa — Erik Jones’ hard-fought victory at Iowa Speedway on Saturday night was meaningful in several ways.
It marked the 20-year-old’s third win of the season and first trip to Victory Lane since May. But it also went a little deeper than that: It was the first race Jones had won since his father Dave passed away from cancer on June 7.
“It’s pretty special,” Jones said after the race. “It’s the first NASCAR win I’ve gotten that he’s not here for. In a way, it’s special for me to get back to Victory Lane without him. I know he’s riding along with us and it’s hard not to think that this one was for him.”
WATCH: Jones celebrates in Victory Lane at Iowa
Jones posted a tweet confirming his father’s passing just before the XFINITY race at his home track of Michigan International Speedway. He concluded the tweet, which also included an extended tribute to his father, with the following:
“I’m going to miss you at the racetrack every weekend, always with a pre-race pep talk. I’m going to miss seeing you every time I come home, I’m going to miss sharing jokes with you, but most all of I’m going to miss my best friend. I love you dad, and I can’t wait to see you again.”
While his father wasn’t there to witness his son take the checkered flag at Iowa, Jones knew he was watching.
“Definitely wish he could have been there to celebrate with us, but I know he’s definitely smiling down on us tonight,” Jones said.