Last Lap Spin Relegates Brandon Jones to 17th-Place Finish At Martinsville

Date: Oct. 30, 2020

Event: NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 (Race 22 of 23, Race 3 of 3 in the Round of 8)

Series: NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series

Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (0.526-mile oval)

Format: Three Stages; 50 laps/50 laps/100 laps

Start/Finish: 9th/17th (Running, completed 200 of 200 laps)

Winner: Grant Enfinger of ThorSport Racing (Ford) 

Brandon Jones brought home the No. 51 Magick Woods Tundra in the 17^th position after a spin coming off Turn 2 on the final lap of the NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 at Martinsville Speedway. The No. 51 team would finish eighth in the owner’s standings failing to advance to the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway. 

Stage One Recap:

• Jones started in the ninth position after a performance matrix based off of finishing position from the previous race, ranking in owner points standings and the fastest lap from the previous race at Texas Motor Speedway.
• When the first caution of the evening fell on Lap 14, Jones was running in the 11^th position needing help on corner entry. Interim crew chief Wes Ward kept his driver on the racetrack. Prior to the race going back under green conditions, Jones radioed to his crew that the 0.526-mile oval was starting to come to him.
• Lessard would finish the stage in the 11^th position. 

Stage Two Recap:

• At the stage break, Jones radioed to his crew that his Magick Woods Tundra was loose in center and that he had no lateral grip. Ward summoned his driver to pit road as the over-the-wall crew administered a stop consisting of four tires, fuel, and a trackbar adjustment. Jones would restart in the ninth position.
• At the third caution of the day on Lap 79, Jones worked his way up to the eighth position and radioed that his Tundra was a tick loose. Ward elected to keep the Tundra on the racetrack to restart in the fifth position.
• During the fourth caution, Jones worked his way up to fifth and radioed that his truck was loose in the center. Ward summoned his driver to pit road and the over-the-wall crew administered a four tire and fuel stop.
• Jones would restart the stage in the 12^th position and would maintain that position during a two-lap shootout to the stage break. 

Final Stage Recap:

• Under the break, Jones radioed to his crew that his Magick Woods Tundra was tight firing off on the restart. Ward elected to keep his driver out on the racetrack to restart in the eighth position.
• When the sixth caution flew, Jones fell back to the 11^th position and radioed that he was “tight center.” He was kept on the racetrack and was told to be a little more aggressive on corner entry.
• Jones worked his way back to the sixth position when the seventh caution flew on Lap 155. He radioed to his team that the rear grip in his Tundra was good but needed more front turn. Ward called his driver down pit road for four tires fuel and a trackbar adjustment. He would restart in the eighth position.
• During the eighth caution on Lap 168, Jones radioed that he was loose center exit. He would not come down pit road and would restart in the eighth position.
• Under the ninth cation on Lap 176, he radioed that his Tundra was a little tight while running in the ninth position.
• After a five lap run, the 10^th caution would fall on Lap 186, Jones was running in the 12^th position and radioed his Tundra was loose on entry.
• After a three lap run, Jones worked his way up to the 10^th position.
• Jones was running in the top-10 before getting spun off Turn 2 on the white flag lap. The spin would relegate Jones to a 17^th-place finish. 

NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 Recap:

• Grant Enfinger scored his sixth career victory Friday at Martinsville beating Ben Rhodes to the line by 0.803 seconds. Zane Smith, Christian Eckes and Matt Crafton finished in the top-five.
• There were 16 lead changes among nine different drivers. There were 11 cautions for 82 laps.

How Jones’ KBM Teammates Fared:

• Christian Eckes, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finished fourth.
• Raphael Lessard, driver of the No. 4 Toyota, finished 20^th. 

Gander Trucks Owner’s Championship Standings:  

After three races in the Round of 8 in the owner’s playoffs, the No. 51 team would finish the round in the eighth position.

Next Race:  

Chandler Smith will be back behind the wheel of the No. 51 Tundra when the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series resumes action on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, at Phoenix Raceway. Live coverage will be on FS1, Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM at 8 p.m. ET.