Erik Jones has voiced a clear preference for NASCAR to focus more on intermediate oval tracks rather than increasing road course events in the Cup Series. Ahead of the Sonoma race, the Legacy Motor Club driver emphasized his comfort and success on ovals, urging the sport to maintain and expand races on these circuits as the Next Gen car continues to evolve.
Jones Expresses Reservations About Next Gen Car on Road Courses
Jones, who started racing primarily on oval tracks before trying road courses about a decade ago, expressed skepticism about the current performance of the Next Gen car on road circuits. He remarked on the car’s impact on race quality, stating,
I would love to do a couple a year. I was totally happy running here and at Watkins Glen. I don’t know. I’m probably not the right guy to ask. I grew up as an oval racer. I didn’t race a road course till 10 years ago for the first time.
He added,
“My opinion is this car is not, just hasn’t put on as good of a show on road courses that the old car did, to be frank.”
Jones suggested a balanced schedule with only a limited number of road course races, saying,
I think it is fun to go to different places, but I could see us doing here, Watkins Glen, and one street course. I think you would be hard-pressed to find many that wouldn’t agree with that.
Strong Support for Mile-and-a-Half Ovals
The No. 43 driver reinforced his belief that the Next Gen car performs best on mile-and-a-half tracks. He highlighted the abundance of these tracks ready to host competitive events, stating,
We know where this car puts on good races, the mile-and-a-half stuff is great, there is plenty of those tracks that we can go back to that are sitting there and primed to race, so I would love to go back to some of those,
reflecting his enthusiasm for these traditional venues.
Statistical Evidence Backing Jones’ Track Preferences
Jones’ performance statistics align with his expressed preferences. His strongest results come at intermediate ovals, where his average finishing position stands at 13.9, notably on two-mile tracks. By contrast, his average finish on road courses is significantly lower at 19.8, emphasizing his relative challenges on those layouts. Despite last season’s difficulties, Jones has shown improvement this year, securing two top-five finishes and another top-10, all on intermediate or superspeedway tracks.
Legacy Motor Club Showing Positive Momentum
Jones’ teammate John Hunter Nemechek has contributed to the team’s positive trajectory with six top-10 finishes, including a top-five. Currently, Jones holds 17th place in the standings, just four points behind Kyle Busch in 16th, while Nemechek ranks 20th. Their combined efforts indicate strength for Legacy Motor Club as they navigate the season’s challenges and opportunities, especially on tracks favored by Jones’ driving style.