BROOKLYN, Mich. — Dave Jones, father of NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Erik Jones, passed away Tuesday following a brief battle with cancer. He was 53.
Jones’ death was acknowledged just before the Menard’s 250 XFINITY Series race here at Michigan International Speedway was preparing to get underway.
Erik Jones, driver of the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, started second and finished fourth in the race, leading 18 laps. On pit road prior to the start of the event, he replaced his own name over the driver’s-side window with that of his father.
He also posted a Tweet confirming his father’s passing.
To confirm – my father did pass away on Tuesday. Take it to the limit Papa Bear pic.twitter.com/IsCybrHWH4
— Erik Jones (@erik_jones) June 11, 2016
Jones was brief in a post-race interview with FOX Sports 1 after the 250-mile event. “I wish he could be here, but it was a good day overall for us,” Jones said. “We miss him a lot, but thank you. I appreciate it.”
Race winner Daniel Suarez, a teammate of Jones’ at JGR, dedicated the win to the Jones family in Victory Lane.
Erik Jones won the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports and began competing full-time in the XFINITY Series this season for JGR.
Following an emotional phone call in Victory Lane after winning at Bristol Motor Speedway earlier this year, the younger Jones broke the news of his father’s illness.
“Not to bring the mood down, but I was actually talking to my parents,” he said during his winner’s press conference. “My dad, I figure we need to announce it at some time, but he got diagnosed with cancer about a month ago. He’s going through treatment now and he’s missed the last few weeks. Just on the phone with him and my mom.
“Just pretty emotional. It was the first race I’ve won that they haven’t been here for and hard to hold the emotions back for that one.”
RELATED: Jones’ emotional Victory Lane phone call
Erik Jones, 20 and a native of Byron, Michigan, has three career Sprint Cup Series starts. He has four victories in 39 career XFINITY Series starts and seven wins in the Truck Series.
Dave Jones was co-owner of Paragon Corvette Reproductions, a Swartz Creek, Michigan parts and restoration company.
The green flag is out in Michigan.
We’re racing in memory of Erik’s father Dave Jones today. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/4h8FdRtJ9J
— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) June 11, 2016