Career Timeline of Erik Jones: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Erik Jones built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Erik Jones is an American professional stock car racing driver. He currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE for Legacy Motor Club. He is a prominent figure in motorsports.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2010: Began competing in the ASA Late Model Series

In 2010, at age 13, Erik Jones began competing in the ASA Late Model Series, becoming the youngest-ever winner of the Oktoberfest race at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway.

2011: Won the CRA All-Star Tour series championship

In 2011, Erik Jones won the Champion Racing Association's CRA All-Star Tour series championship in his rookie year. He also won that year's Governor's Cup 200 late model race at New Smyrna Speedway.

December 2012: Jones Wins the Snowball Derby

In December 2012, Erik Jones held off NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Busch to win the prestigious Snowball Derby.

2012: Start of JGR Relationship

In 2012, Erik Jones began his long-term relationship with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), which would eventually end in 2020.

2012: Moved to ARCA Racing Series

In 2012, Erik Jones moved to the ARCA Racing Series, becoming the first-ever driver to compete in the series at the age of fifteen. He posted a best finish of third at Winchester Speedway and Berlin Raceway.

March 2013: Signed with Kyle Busch Motorsports

In March 2013, Kyle Busch Motorsports announced that it had signed Erik Jones to drive in five age-eligible Camping World Truck Series races in the team's No. 51 Toyota Tundra.

November 8, 2013: Youngest driver to win in NASCAR's top-level competition

On November 8, 2013, Erik Jones became the youngest driver ever to win in the history of NASCAR's top-level competition, winning the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway at the age of seventeen years, five months and eight days.

December 2013: Named winner of the 2013 Snowball Derby

In December 2013, Erik Jones was named the winner of the 2013 Snowball Derby after Chase Elliott was disqualified.

2013: First ARCA Racing Series win

In 2013, Erik Jones secured his first ARCA Racing Series win at Berlin Raceway, dominating the entire race.

January 2014: Returned to KBM in the Truck Series

In January 2014, it was announced that Erik Jones would return to KBM in the Truck Series for 2014, competing in all age-eligible events and selected longer track events after he turned eighteen.

June 19, 2014: Will run three races in Nationwide Series

On June 19, 2014, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Erik Jones would run three races with the team's No. 20 in the Nationwide Series after he became age-eligible.

July 11, 2014: Won at Iowa Speedway

On July 11, 2014, Erik Jones dueled Ryan Blaney and ultimately held him off for the win at Iowa Speedway.

September 13, 2014: Qualified for Kyle Busch

On September 13, 2014, Erik Jones qualified for Kyle Busch at Chicagoland Speedway, who would later go on and win the race.

September 27, 2014: Won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

On September 27, 2014, Erik Jones won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for his first longer track win.

November 6, 2014: Full 2015 Truck Series Season Announced

On November 6, 2014, it was announced that Erik Jones would run the full 2015 season in the Trucks for KBM, his first age-eligible season racing for a championship, and an increased slate of races for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series.

November 7, 2014: Fourth Truck Series Win at Phoenix

On November 7, 2014, Erik Jones secured his fourth career Truck Series win under the red flag at Phoenix due to a power outage.

2014: Last Win of the No. 43 since 2014

In 2014, The No. 43 car had not won until Erik Jones's victory at Darlington in 2022, ending a winless streak for the number.

April 10, 2015: First Xfinity Series win

On April 10, 2015, Erik Jones won his first Xfinity Series race at Texas Motor Speedway in the No. 20.

2015: Racing for Championship

In 2015, Erik Jones raced his first age-eligible season for a championship

2015: Strong start to the season

In 2015, Erik Jones started his season strong with a 2nd place finish at Daytona International Speedway. At Kansas Speedway, Jones would pick up his first pole of the season.

2015: Sprint Cup Series debut

In 2015, Erik Jones unofficially debuted in the Sprint Cup Series during the Food City 500, relieving Denny Hamlin in the No. 11 due to Hamlin's neck spasms. Jones finished the race in 26th.

2015: Jones won the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship

In 2015, Erik Jones, while in Toyota's driver development program, secured the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship.

2015: Earned Points Lead

In August 2015, Jones would score his second win of the season at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, gaining the points lead for the first time in his career after Tyler Reddick got into a wreck.

August 7, 2016: Signed with Furniture Row Racing

On August 7, 2016, it was announced that Erik Jones had signed a deal with Furniture Row Racing to drive in their new No. 77 car sponsored by 5-hour Energy, SiriusXM, and GameStop for the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

2016: Full-time in Xfinity Series for JGR

In 2016, Erik Jones started racing full-time in the Xfinity Series for JGR, driving the No. 20. He won his first race of the season at Bristol in April and also won the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus.

2016: Single race at Gateway Motorsports Park

In 2016, Jones returned to KBM to run a single race at Gateway Motorsports Park, finishing fifth after starting the race in sixth.

July 11, 2017: Move to JGR No. 20 car announced

On July 11, 2017, it was announced that Erik Jones would make the move to the JGR No. 20 car full-time in 2018, replacing Kenseth. This coincided with Furniture Row Racing's announcement that they would shut down the No. 77 team.

August 19, 2017: Dominated at Bristol

On August 19, 2017, Erik Jones dominated at Bristol, winning his first Cup Series pole and leading 260 laps, but finished second after losing the lead late in the race.

2017: Winless Season

In 2017, Erik Jones finished his rookie season. He finished seventeenth in points and would go winless for the first time since then.

2017: Raced for Furniture Row Racing

In 2017, Erik Jones raced for Furniture Row Racing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

2017: Part-time Xfinity schedule

In 2017, as he began racing full-time in the Cup Series, Erik Jones run a part-time Xfinity schedule. In April, he won back-to-back races at Texas and Bristol.

July 7, 2018: First career Cup Series win

On July 7, 2018, Erik Jones captured his first career Cup Series win at the 2018 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. This win secured him in the Playoffs, but was eliminated in the Round of 16.

2018: Move to JGR No. 20 car

In 2018, Erik Jones made the move to the JGR No. 20 car.

2018: Single race at Pocono Raceway

In 2018, Erik Jones returned to KBM for a single race at Pocono Raceway, finishing in second place behind his teammate and truck owner, Kyle Busch.

September 2, 2019: Second career Cup Series win

On September 2, 2019, Erik Jones scored his second career Cup Series win at Darlington, securing him in the 2019 Playoffs.

2019: XCI Racing No. 81 Toyota

Erik Jones drove the XCI Racing No. 81 Toyota at the 2019 Food City 300 at Bristol, where he finished 37th after being involved in a multi-car pileup with Christopher Bell, Cole Custer, and Joey Logano.

April 2020: Erik's Reading Circle Launch

In April 2020, Erik Jones started 'Erik's Reading Circle' on Facebook, where he reads children's books and takes suggestions for future readings. He also hosts a book club of the same name on his website.

August 2020: Departure from JGR

In August 2020, following Leavine Family Racing's announcement of their team's sale, Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announced they would part ways with Erik Jones at the end of the season. This ended a relationship that began in 2012.

October 21, 2020: Confirmation to Drive No. 43 for Richard Petty Motorsports

On October 21, 2020, Erik Jones was confirmed to drive the No. 43 car for Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) in the 2021 season, replacing Bubba Wallace.

2020: First Top-Five Since 2020

In 2020, Erik Jones had his first top-five finish since 2020, finishing third.

2020: Joined partnership for Truck race

In 2020, Erik Jones joined a partnership between Wauters Motorsports and former team owners James Finch and Billy Ballew to run the Truck race at Homestead–Miami Speedway, spurred by a bounty from Kevin Harvick and Marcus Lemonis.

2020: Signed contract extension

In 2020, Erik Jones signed a contract extension with JGR to drive the No. 20.

August 2, 2021: Returns to Xfinity Series

On August 2, 2021, it was announced that Erik Jones would return to the Xfinity Series to run the race at Watkins Glen in the No. 31 for Jordan Anderson Racing. He eventually crashed out of this race.

August 22, 2021: Jones to remain in the No. 43

On August 22, 2021, it was announced that Erik Jones would remain in the No. 43 car for the 2022 season, sponsored by FocusFactor for 26 races.

2021: Jones leaves Toyota

In 2021, Erik Jones ended his tenure with Toyota, where he had spent his entire NASCAR and ARCA career up to that point.

2021: Season Result

In 2021, Erik Jones ended the season 24th in the point standings with Richard Petty Motorsports.

2022: Continued Career with Petty GMS and Darlington Win

In 2022, Erik Jones continued in the No. 43 after RPM was purchased by GMS Racing to form Petty GMS. He achieved his first top-five since 2020 at Fontana, finishing third, and later won at Darlington, marking Petty GMS's first win and the No. 43's first win since 2014. Jones ended the season eighteenth in points.

2022: Sixth Place Finishes

In 2022, Erik Jones secured consecutive sixth-place finishes at Talladega, contributing to his third consecutive sixth-place finish at the track in 2023.

2023: 2023 Season Summary

In 2023, Erik Jones started the season with Guns N' Roses sponsoring the No. 43 at the Daytona 500. He faced a penalty after the Gateway race but achieved multiple top-ten finishes, ending the season 27th in points with seven top-tens and one top-five.

2024: 2024 Season and Injury

In 2024, Erik Jones started with an eighth-place finish at Daytona. He suffered a compression fracture at Talladega and missed Dover, with Corey Heim as a substitute. He returned at Darlington, managed one top-five, and ended 28th in points. Despite crew chief changes and difficult results, he extended his contract with Legacy.

2024: Jones returns to Toyota

In 2024, Erik Jones would return to Toyota's NASCAR program when Legacy Motor Club switched their manufactural allegiance to them.

2025: 2025 Season Start and Disqualification

In 2025, Erik Jones began the season with a twelfth place finish at the Daytona 500 but was later disqualified after the Martinsville race due to the car not meeting minimum weight requirements.