NASCAR: Erik Jones tipped to return to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2020
By Asher Fair
Erik Jones has been tipped to return to Joe Gibbs Racing for what would be his third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series season driving for the team in 2020.
In the midst of his second NASCAR Cup Series season driving for Joe Gibbs Racing after replacing Matt Kenseth following his rookie season at the Joe Gibbs Racing-affiliated Furniture Row Racing, Erik Jones has been tipped for a third season behind the wheel of the #20 Toyota.
There had been rumors that the 23-year-old Byron, Michigan native would be replaced by Joe Gibbs Racing Xfinity Series superstar Christopher Bell, but those rumors do not look like they will come to fruition.
Sports Business Journal’s Adam Stern, while he did not confirm the news, revealed that it appears to be all but a done deal.
.@Erik_Jones is expected to be back in @JoeGibbsRacing's No. 20 Toyota next year, his attorney Alan Miller said tonight -- signaling a renewal is close.
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) August 14, 2019
➖ That would set up @CBellRacing as the heir apparent to @LFR95. pic.twitter.com/0prYxr4QaE
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Jones has been considered on the hot seat for quite some time, but neither he nor team owner Joe Gibbs never really made a big deal out of it. Jones stated in April that he was working toward a contract extension with the team to continue driving the #20 Toyota. Weeks later with still no confirmation, he stated that he was not worried about it.
Two months later, there was still no confirmation, and Bell re-signed with Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2020 season. But it was not revealed in which series he would drive next year. At this point, Jones was below the playoff cut line, further adding to speculation that he may be replaced by Bell.
Jones responded by going on a four-race streak of top four finishes. Despite the fact that he has not won a race since he earned the first victory of his Cup Series career in the race at Daytona International Speedway last July, only teammates Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr., who co-lead the Cup Series with four victories each so far this season, and Team Penske’s Joey Logano have recorded more top three finishes than he has in 2019.
Gibbs even recently hinted that Jones would be back with the team next year, albeit without officially confirming his return.
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With Erik Jones likely set to return to the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, where will Christopher Bell end up? Will he drive the #95 Toyota for the Joe Gibbs Racing-affiliated Leavine Family Racing like he is now expected to, or will he remain in the Xfinity Series as the driver of the #20 Toyota? If the former comes to fruition, what will happen to Matt DiBenedetto, Leavine Family Racing’s current driver?