Driver also nabs part-time gig in XFINITY Series
Erik Jones will compete fulltime for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and run a partial schedule for Joe Gibbs Racing in the XFINITY Series in 2015, officials announced Thursday.
Jones, 18, is a three-time winner in the Truck Series, despite running a limited schedule (16 career starts) with KBM. He is the defending champion of this weekend’s Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway.
Ryan "Rudy" Fugle will serve as crew chief for the Truck Series team.
"This is obviously a huge step for me and my racing career in general – a step towards even having a shot at a championship really, so this is my first opportunity to go out and race for a championship in any of the three NASCAR Series," Jones said Thursday in between practices for the NCWTS.
"It’s one of the bigger steps I've taken … and I'm definitely looking forward to the challenge it's going to bring. It's a new challenge, not one that I've had before and I'm looking forward to learning from it. I've got a great position at KBM and I feel like I'm in the best position I've been in my career."
Personnel for the NNS entry have not been determined. Jones said he hopes to run at least 10 races for JGR in that series.
"We're still trying to figure all that out, but hopefully we'll be able to announce that in the next few months," he said. Definitely going to be double-digit races and looking forward to that. It's a pretty great aspect for me along with the Truck season. It definitely will be a busy schedule, but I'm really looking forward to being in a car multiple weeks in a row and having a shot at it all."
Busch, who continues to run a part-time schedule in the Truck and Nationwide Series while competing fulltime in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, said Jones is "more than ready to take the next step."
"Toward the end of this season, he had a stretch where he was behind the wheel for five of six races on all types of tracks and each week he went out, ran up front and showcased how talented he is at such a young age."
Jones has made two starts in the Nationwide Series this season, finishing seventh in his debut at Chicago and eighth at Bristol Motor Speedway for JGR.
He said he had no 2014 plans a year ago when he came to Phoenix and left with his first career victory in the Truck Series. But the victory opened doors.
"In 2012, it was the Snowball Derby that jump-started it into five races (in the truck) and then at the end of last year, it was the Phoenix win that jump-started it into 12 races (for ’14)," he said. "I was fortunate enough to pick up a few wins this year and just have some good runs that have helped me kind of jump-start it into next season.
"I never really pictured myself as being in the position I’m in; trying to get a deal is so tough. When we started talks about it, obviously you get excited, but until it's all signed and done you're pretty skeptical until the end. It's just cool to have it all done."
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