CONCORD, N.C.: Brandon Jones knew that was going to be all about the points going into the elimination Drive for the Cure 250 race at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Road Course and the Joe Gibbs Racing driver fought for all of them throughout the 72 laps Saturday afternoon.
“We’re points racing today, which is a difficult place to be in,” said Jones before the race. “If guys decide they have to short pit to win the race we are going to stay out for points.”
Jones and his No. 19 Menards Toyota Supra team did not steer away from the attack plan.
Starting the race from 15th, Jones aboard the No. 19 Menards | Fisher Toyota Supra was plagued by an ill-handling car. Giving feedback to the team, he would report that he was battling with the car and that he needed more drive-off.
Uncomfortable in the car, crew chief Jeff Meendering would bring his driver to pit road on Lap 19 for four tires, fuel and an adjustment.
Returning to the track, Jones would finish Stage 1 in 29th and with zero stage points. Although he wouldn’t gain any stage or the potential of 1 Playoff point, their strategy would give them good track position for the upcoming Stage 2.
Restarting 11th for Stage 2, throughout the stage and saving his equipment, Jones would keep his race car on the track and while other teams ducked onto pit road, Jones would end the stage by crossing the start-finish line first, picking up 10 valuable stage points and 1 Playoff point.
The team’s bold strategy put him just three points below the cut line.
With the end of the stage approaching, other teams decided to come to pit road as the team strategy would continue and Jones would stay out winning stage 2 and gaining valuable stage points putting him 3 points below the cut line.
“That first one threw me for a loop, didn’t start off as good as I wanted it to for this race,” added Jones after the race. “Jeff (Meendering, crew chief) made a really good call on the first stop to do an adjustment and got some really good adjustments in there and once we got track position, we were fast enough to maintain it.
“It was just that we weren’t really fast enough to drive up to that point. So, we did a really good job flipping that stage and getting the stage win.”
Wanting more of the same from the previous pit stop, he would start the third and final stage from 11.
As the intensity rose and some chaos ensued, Jones’s aggressiveness throughout the stage would keep the team’s head above water.
Jones even had to withstand two NASCAR overtimes and any further carnage at the front of the field to take the checkered flag in seventh and firmly secure his seat into the Round of 8.
“It was one of those days where everyone just did their job. I think we had a goal in mind today,” added Jones. “We always want to come in and win these races, but our goal today was to come in and move onto the next round. Whatever we had to do to do that was what we decided on. Knew we needed some stage points.
“Then at the end, they did as really, really good job of letting me know where everyone was points-wise. That’s what I told them what I wanted to hear all day so I knew how hard I needed to push for that next position or if I can ride in that area and not have to push. something crazy.”
Jones contributed to a trouble-free race and assisted in helping make the penultimate Xfinity Series Playoff round which consists of Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway, Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway and Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on October 29, 2022.
“We were just really solid,” Jones sounded. “We didn’t spin out, didn’t have any lockups. Everyone did their job on pit road. That’s really what we need to do these next couple of rounds to get to Phoenix.
Jones’ bid for a spot in the Championship 4 finale continues on Sat. October 15 from Las Vegas in the Alsco Uniforms 302 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Follow Grace Krenrich on Twitter @Grace3140.
