Gibbs: Jones 'on the fast track' to Cup seat

The Byron, Michigan native has emerged as one of the brightest young stars in NASCAR, and certainly the top prospect in the Joe Gibbs Racing stable. It gives team owner Joe Gibbs the enviable task of programming Jones' career and determining when, and in what manner, he should be elevated.
 
"There's no question that at some point very quick, he's going to be in a Cup car some," Gibbs said after Jones' eye-opening win. "I think we have a bit of a strategy there that we talked about. I think he's ready to go at any time. We'll just work with that as we go forward."
 
Gibbs didn't give a specific timeline, but his verbiage and body language at the podium in the media center following Jones' win in the O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 suggested that might happen sooner rather than later. The JGR shop has four Cup cars, one of which -- the No. 18 of Kyle Busch -- has David Ragan in as a substitute driver while Busch heals from a broken leg.
 
There's also the option of putting Jones in a fifth company car for a handful of races, much like Hendrick Motorsports did with Chase Elliott. A team can only have a maximum of four full-time cars, but NASCAR rules allow a fifth entry for a maximum of seven races to allow a rookie driver to become familiar with top-level competition.
 
More than anything else, a full slate is holding Jones back. He's running full time in the Truck Series in the No. 4 Toyota of Kyle Busch Motorsports (and is third in the points standings), and has sponsorship from GameStop for 10 XFINITY Series races.
 
"We felt like he had a full plate this year because he's running for a championship in Trucks, so Kyle (Busch) wanted him to do that, and we all did, too," Gibbs said. "Then we tried -- he's maxed out as far as the number of XFINITY races he can run because some of them conflict with Trucks.
 
"(But) we are really proud of him to be able to do what he's done. The big thing is, he beat some big people -- those are good cars up front in really quality stuff. He should be proud of himself."
 
Gibbs has a case study when it comes to promoting a young teenage hotshot. Joey Logano jumped into the No. 20 full time when he was 18.
 
Four full-time seasons didn't yield the results the driver or the team wanted -- and expected -- leading to Logano leaving the company for a ride with Team Penske. As last year's spot in the Championship 4 suggests, Logano has emerged as one of the sport's top drivers.
 
"I will say this of Joey right now, the guy's a star," Gibbs said. "Whatever happened in the past, it certainly paid off now. I think Erik's situation is different from that. You look at it totally different, (but) I think that you do learn from things in the past. We know that Erik's on the fast track, so it's just a matter of when."
 
Jones demonstrated Friday night he'll be ready to answer that call whenever it comes. He powered past Earnhardt Jr. on Lap 151 and led the rest of the way, his sweep down low past the No. 88 Chevrolet coming after a 10-lap stretch where Jones was faster than Junior but had to figure out a way around the veteran.
 
Part of Jones' ploy included bumping Junior's car, a not-so-subtle message that Jones felt he was faster and was being held up.
 
Once the pass was complete, he had to hold off Brad Keselowski on a restart with 26 laps to go. He did.
 
It was the type of showing that drew praise from both veterans, who know they may see him again soon -- and in the Sprint Cup Series.
 
"Yeah, it was (special)," Jones said. "Especially with Dale with the battle we had there. … That was two guys giving 100 percent and giving it all they got, saving nothing. That's how you're supposed to race."

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