Event: JEGS 200 (Race 6 of 23)
Series: NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series
Location: Dover (Del.) International Speedway (One-mile oval)
Format: Three Segments; 45 laps/45 laps/110 laps
Start/Finish: 19th / 13th (running, completed 200 of 200 laps)
Winner: Johnny Sauter of ThorSport Racing (Ford)
Brandon Jones earned a 13th-place finish in his first NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series start in a Kyle Busch Motorsports Tundra this season. The young driver made five starts for KBM last season. After one round of single-truck qualifying, Jones earned the 19th starting position. Crew chief Rudy Fugle and the No. 51 team worked on the No. 51 Chigo Tundra throughout the weekend, and Jones was able to make it in to the top-10 several times, but could not maintain the position and fell to 13th in the closing laps.
Stage One Recap:
- Qualifying for the event consisted of one round of single truck qualifying, and Jones earned the 19th starting position.
- For the majority of the first stage, Jones remained in the top-20, but was unable to gain positions.
- The 22-year-old reported a tight handling condition and requested more security on entry to the corner.
- Crew chief Rudy Fugle brought Jones to pit road under caution at the stage end for four tires, fuel and adjustments to the Chigo/Menards Tundra.
Stage Two Recap:
- Jones began stage two in the 10th position, after a quick pit stop.
- During the second stage, Jones ran in the top-10, despite reporting that his machine was chattering in the turns, finishing the stage in the ninth position.
- Fugle called him to pit road following the end of the stage for four more Goodyear tires and Sunoco fuel.
Stage Three Recap:
- The Georgia driver began the final stage in the fifth position after a quick four-tire pit stop between stages.
- Unfortunately, the No. 51 was still chattering in the turns and Jones was not able to maintain his position, falling out of the top-10.
- Under caution with 45 laps to go, Fugle brought Jones to pit road for the final time for four tires, fuel and adjustments, and on the restart, Jones was able to climb into the top 10.
- Jones crossed the finish line in the 13th position.
Brandon Jones, driver of the No. 51 Chigo/Menards Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports:
How did your day go?
“We just fought an ill handling truck all weekend long. Overnight they did a lot of changes to my Chigo Tundra. They actually didn’t make it too bad for qualifying, so I was surprised we qualified where we did. And then in the race, nothing really worked for it all day long. It definitely wasn’t from lack of effort, I really enjoyed working with Rudy (Fugle, crew chief) and working with these guys on the 51 team. It was great to have Chigo on the truck and we’re looking forward to getting back to Kansas next week. “
JEGS 200 Recap:
- Johnny Sauter won the race by 0.603 seconds followed by Brett Moffitt, Harrison Burton, Grant Enfinger and Matt Crafton rounded out the top-five finishers.
- The race featured six cautions for 35 laps and 11 lead changes among six drivers.
How Busch’s KBM Teammates Fared:
Todd Gilliland, driver of the No. 4 Toyota Tundra, finished 15th
Harrison Burton, driver of the No. 18 Toyota Tundra, finished 3rd
Raphael Lessard, driver of the No. 46 Toyota Tundra, finished 11th
Gander Trucks Driver Championship Standings:
The No. 51 team leaves the sixth race of the season ranked first in the Truck Series Owner’s Championship Standings, 39 markers ahead of second-place.
Next Race:
Brandon Jones will be behind the wheel of the No. 51 Tundra when the Truck Series returns to action Friday, May 10 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. Live coverage of the Digital Ally 250 begins at 8:30 p.m. EST on FS1.
