MARTINSVILLE, Va: Brandon Jones appeared set to sweep both Xfinity Series races at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway this season but more importantly vault his way to a Championship 4 spot next weekend at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway, but his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Ty Gibbs had other plans.
The chaotic final thirty laps of the race saw cautions breed cautions with Jones standing tall and firm and keeping his No. 19 Menards Toyota near the front of the field.
On the next to final restart, Jones had control of the race but a shove from Gibbs gave the No. 54 Monster Energy Drink Toyota Supra the race lead – but the caution waved for an incident in Turn 2 setting up the final restart of the race.
Restarting second, Jones opted to start behind his teammate instead of taking the outside lane. Jones had hoped to utilize the same move that he used several laps early where a nudge moved Gibbs up the race track and allowed Jones to squeeze by.
History repeated himself on the next-to-last lap with Jones making the move on Gibbs again through Turns 1 and 2 with Jones clearing for the lead in Turns 3 and 4 and taking the white flag lap.
As the cars screamed towards Turn 1, Gibbs dumped the No. 19 Toyota Supra sending Jones into the wall causing significant damage to his automobile.
The caution waved for the final time – ending the race and handing the win to Gibbs.
The Martinsville crowd erupted in thunderous boos as Gibbs came around to the checkered flag with Jones limping his battered race car home in 23rd and officially ending his Xfinity Series Playoff bid.
After the race, Jones said, “Oh man, it was first off a really phenomenal day. I had the race won I think. I don’t know. I love my guys and love everyone on this No. 19 group, but I’m excited to make my to JRM next year and be apart of that organization and a little more respect probably given next year.
“We have one race left – Phoenix. I know we go out there and win that and shake this up a little bit still yet. Try and still a little thunder.”
Knowing what was on the line, Jones chalked up the ending of the race as hard short track racing – but the Atlanta, Ga. native admitted he didn’t think would get dumped.
“I have no words,” Jones continued. “I know we had some fun beating and banging back and forth a little bit, but I’ve never wrecked him or done anything for a win, so it just kinda shows where that level is there.
“We just continued to swap between first and second-place, really. No way is anybody going to take the top (lane). I assume that anybody behind me is going to give me a little bit of heck. And I’m gonna try to give them as much as I can, too. But never take anybody out.
“I think I’ve lost more races than I have won by just respectfully letting guys win and not pulling moves like that. But time will always bring that back together there, and I think that it’ll it always come back around.
“I think it (contact) opened up the opportunity to get moved but I don’t know about getting dumped and destroyed and finishing dead last. Just expected to maybe have a little bit more of a shot at it there.”
Gibbs post-race offered his side.
“I feel like after I got shoved out of the way for the first time (by Jones), it was on and we were racing for the win after that,” Gibbs said. “Going into Turn 1 (on the final lap) I definitely didn’t want to clear him out, but I definitely wanted to move him. I crossed that line a little bit too much and spun him out.
“There’s always going to be people in life that are always going to hate and you can’t listen to the chatter and you can’t listen to all the opinions and thoughts. I feel like I go out here and do my job which is to race for wins. So, it’s part of life. Luckily, I get to do it at a pretty young age.”
Jones conceded that he knows Gibbs probably doesn’t care about what the last lap shenanigans.
“I know Ty enough to where I know he doesn’t care about what he did,” added Jones. “He’s pretty much, well, he wasn’t pretty much. He was locked into the next round. So really, what did that do?
“I don’t really understand the move. I understand trying to get aggressive, you want to win the race. But to just destroy the race car, I don’t see it. I don’t get any satisfaction from it. Maybe, he does. Maybe, he likes to win that way?
“But I never have and never felt strong about racing that way. So, we’ll just take it and go for it.”
Despite seeing his championship hopes over for the season, Jones is trying to look ahead to next weekend’s season finale with a positive approach believing his Joe Gibbs Racing team will bring him a car that is capable of winning his second race of 2022 in his final race with the organization.
“I’m looking forward to Phoenix, man,” continued Jones. “I think that we’re going to have a shot to win that race. I felt that way the entire day today thinking, man, I’m going to get to this next round and I’m gonna go win Phoenix.”
Still reflecting on the outcome of Saturday night’s Dead On Tools 250, Jones is thankful for another opportunity to contend for an Xfinity Series title next season and even though his surroundings will be much different – it may be his biggest opportunity yet.
“It is what it is, man,” sounded Jones. “I’ve got another year to do so. I’m very fortunate to be back in Xfinity next year. So, I’ll just continue to take everything I’m learning here and bring it to next year.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
