Yahoo Autos Erik Jones 'Blindsided' by Joe Gibbs Racing Decision to Part Ways
Erik Jones was caught by surprise on Thursday morning when he was informed that Joe Gibbs Racing would not retain his services for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.
In fact, Jones said he was "blindsided" by the decision on Sunday during the pre-race show for Sunday’s race at Michigan International Speedway, believing the two sides were moving closer towards a contract extension.
"I didn’t really expect it coming from our talks," Jones said. "I thought we were moving in a good direction," At the end of the day, I’ve had a great, really, eight years almost with Joe Gibbs Racing between Xfinity and Cup, and I’m thankful for that time. It’s good to see the support that’s been out there the last few days on social media and everybody that’s coming out in support; it’s been awesome.
"We’ve got a great few opportunities out there, which has been good to see. Over the next few weeks, hopefully, we can have some good talks, so excited about that. Excited about the next 15 races, too."
The 24-year-old has driven for Gibbs and Toyota Racing Development since 2013, when he was a teenaged pavement short track prodigy, who famously outdueled Kyle Busch to win the 2012 Snowball Derby Super Late Model race.
Since then, Gibbs and TRD shepherded his development through the ladder system into a full-time Cup Series driver -- spending one year at Furniture Row Racing and the past three seasons in the JGR No. 20.
"It’s a lot different spot," Jones said. "After we won that first truck race in Phoenix (in 2013), I was kind of on a plan, and it really worked out really well all the way up to the No. 20 car. It’s a lot different situation. I’ve got great people behind me working with me.
"It’s been a hectic few days in trying to start working on things for next year, but it’s also an opportunity to take a foundation that we built the last few years and start to build from that. It’s unfortunate in one way, but it’s exciting in another too."
Jones has two wins at the highest level of the discipline -- the 2018 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona and 2019 Southern 500 at Darlington.
Christopher Bell is expected to replace Jones in the No. 20, a byproduct of the recently announced sale of Leavine Family Racing. Toyota and Gibbs currently have Bell under a contract that must ensure him a ride in the Cup Series next year or he would be free to join another organization.
Jones was signed to a one year extension last season once Gibbs was able to loan Bell to LFR.
Without another major satellite team within the Toyota Racing Development system, Gibbs was forced to choose Bell over Jones. That decision is expected to be made official in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Jones is working towards a playoff run, but is one spot and 26 points behind William Byron for the provisional cutoff with four races remaining in the regular season.
