September 6, 2019 | By Lee Spencer

Erik Jones renews for 2020 with Joe Gibbs Racing

Erik Jones will be back in the No. 20 Toyota Camry at Joe Gibbs Racing—at least for next year.

A JGR release announcing the extension on Friday specifically stated that Jones signed his deal for 2020, but there was no mention of anything beyond next season. 

Coming off of his second-career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win in the prestigious Southern 500 last Sunday, the 23-year-old Byron, Michigan, native is currently 12th in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings.

“I’m so happy to finally have my plans for 2020 confirmed and to talk about it,” Jones said. “I’m excited to be staying with Joe Gibbs Racing and the 20 team and to continue the success that we have built over the last two years in the Cup Series. I put my heart and soul into this and this race team. 

“This is my living and how I want to make a career and what I want to do. I’ve been racing with JGR since 2014, and it’s really cool to be able to continue with the foundation we’ve built over the years and hopefully win more races and contend for championships together.”

Jones, who is in his third full season on the Cup tour, has two poles, 23 top fives and 45 top 10s in 100 starts. After being discovered by Kyle Busch, whom he beat in the 2012 Snowball Derby, Jones has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the stock car ranks. 

In 2013, Jones won his first Camping World Truck Series race in his fifth start. After a partial schedule the following year, Jones won the 2015 truck title while driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports. He has posted seven wins, seven poles, 20 top fives and 35 top 10s in 42 Truck starts. 

During his only full season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Jones finished fourth in the 2016 standings. He led the tour with four wins and seven poles behind the wheel of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota but lost the title in the season finale. Jones won 2017 Rookie-of-the-Year honors in the Cup Series with Furniture Row Racing before realigning with JGR last year. 

“Erik has accomplished so much in our sport already and yet, he really is just at the start of a long career,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. “He’s been a part of Joe Gibbs Racing for almost his entire professional career and we’re excited to see what the future holds for him.”

Jones was one of the first drivers to graduate from the Toyota Racing driver development program. His victory at Darlington locked him into the Playoffs for the second consecutive season.

“All of us at Toyota and TRD (Toyota Racing Development) are thrilled to have Erik extend his relationship with Joe Gibbs Racing and the No. 20 Camry,” said David Wilson, president of TRD, U.S.A. “Erik has been a part of the family since 2013, and we’ve been fortunate to see him advance and develop as a race car driver and a person. 

“From a Truck Series champion to a Playoff contender and race winner in the Cup Series, we’re honored to be a part of his journey. Without a doubt, we know his recent Cup Series success is just the beginning of what is sure to be many more wins and championship-contending seasons to come.”