NASCAR: 5 drivers most likely to win the 2018 Quaker State 400
By Dustin Smith
Erik Jones
Momentum, or “Uncle Mo” as some may call, is something that several drivers look to find throughout the long race season. Erik Jones finding victory lane for the first time in his NASCAR Cup Series career last Saturday may have put the momentum on his side. A win at Daytona International Speedway is sure to refuel the adrenaline tank for any driver. With that said, look out for Jones this Saturday at Kentucky Speedway.
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Some of the best news for Jones heading into this weekend may not even be Daytona-related. Jones’s career statistics show that Kentucky Speedway is his second best track in terms of average finish.
Sure, Jones has only raced there once in 2017, and he finished in sixth place in that race. However, he has experienced the same success at the track in the Xfinity Series. His average Xfinity Series finish at Kentucky in five races is 9.00, and he has four top eight finishes.
Riding the win from last weekend at Daytona and heading to a track at which he has scored well in both the Cup Series and the Xfinity Series should fare well for Jones. The 2017 Cup Series Rookie of the Year clinched a spot in the 2018 playoffs with the win and can now focus on building up playoff points going forward.
It’s hard to say if some pressure has been relieved after Jones won to secure himself a spot in the playoffs. I would guess that we will see a lot more of Erik Jones’s mullet in victory lane going forward.
Next: Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time
Who do you think will be in victory lane this Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway? Was your pick listed here? Tune in to NBC Sports Network on Saturday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET for all of the action in the Quaker State 400.