Mentor emerged: Brandon Jones acts as veteran for young Joe Gibbs Racing stable
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Brandon Jones wouldn't identify himself as an extrovert. For the bulk of his NASCAR career, he's kept his thoughts internal, unsure when the right time to speak up was.
But at a seasoned 29 years old, Jones has embraced his leadership role among Joe Gibbs Racing's NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series lineup. His three teammates include teenagers William Sawalich and upstart Brent Crews, while Taylor Gray is just 21.
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"It's interesting because I've really never been in this kind of role before," Jones told NASCAR.com recently about his positioning at JGR. "When I went to [JR Motorsports], it's Justin (Allgaier). Sure, I've got a lot of years, but Justin has 10 more on top of that. Now, it flip-flopped."
Internally, JGR leadership has noticed Jones being more vocal. Getting the Georgia native to speak his mind took years of becoming comfortable with his status among O'Reilly competitors. But in his 11th full season -- and seventh with JGR -- Jones has shifted his mindset.
"I've been the guy to go to for, 'Are we on the right path? Is this how the cars have felt through the years in transition, what are we missing?'" Jones said. "I'm trying to be the bridge of the gap and not be the bad guy, but the one that is speaking up a little more when the uncomfortable situations happen when you don't want to be the one to the team saying, 'What are we doing guys? These aren't good days.' Top fives are OK, but we need to be winning every week. If we're not leading laps and [winning], they are not really good days.
"I'm trying to be that guy who raises the standard a little bit. It's been going good, but something that isn't in my nature to be that kind of, 'I'm the big dog, move out of the way here.' It's not the way I've expressed it, either."
Steve deSouza, longtime JGR executive and current EVP, O'Reilly Auto Parts Series/Development, has noticed Jones' approach. During team debriefs, the eight-time winner is more expressive. Jones has been a key contributor in helping Gray and Sawalich, both of whom have won in 2026, including the No. 54 car bettering the No. 20 bunch at Kansas Speedway, one of Jones' best circuits on the schedule.
"I think he's done a really good job being a spokesman in our driver's meetings," deSouza said. "He is open to a good day and a bad day and knows, 'I didn't do something right' or 'the car wasn't right, or I wasn't comfortable' -- whatever the things are that a driver goes through. Now, he is at that age where he has a lot of experience, and he can help some of the other drivers go through some of those things.
"He is very even-keeled, so there's not a lot of highs or a lot of lows."
Getting paired with Sam McAulay as crew chief since Jones' return to JGR in 2025 has also been a boon. The No. 20 team does intense analyses following each race. That process has helped the Georgia native get more comfortable being candid.
"I think it's been cool to see him become more vocal," McAulay said. "He has internalized areas where he's confident, he's going to speak his mind and help the group. He is detailed with what he's looking for, which is what we want. We try to make sure everything is exactly to what he's looking for and maxed out as far as making our stuff as nice as we can make it and continuously improving everything. I think from last year to this year, he has become more vocal for the group in driver's meetings and is always willing to help his teammates."
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