Erik Jones has won the NASCAR Xfinity Race at Iowa Speedway on Saturday, July 30. The rookie 20-year-old's triumph was extra special given that it was his first win without his father, who passed away due to cancer a month ago.
Erik Jones Wins With One Late Surge
Jones' victory (also his third win this season) was almost gotten by second-placer Ty Dillon. Jones was leading a race-high 154 of 250 laps but trailed after Dillon in less than 20 laps remaining. Jones' No. 20 Toyota car took the lead again when he did one crucial surge against Dillon on lap No. 234, CBS Local reported.
Jones said his late surge was "no strategy" and stressed that Dillon was good at blocking him and making him burn his tires "a little bit," according to USA Today. Jones added that he "kind of conserved, and then charged for the last 50 laps or so."
Jones has a nearly four-second margin of victory. His competitors have finished the race at least 10 seconds after him.
Dillon was dismayed that Jones overtook him in the race and said that he "wanted to win so bad" and enter Victory Lane again. Dillon may have caught Jones about 100 laps before the finish line, but the stress and pressure he exerted in those times were too much for his car.
Dillon has never won first place in a NASCAR Xfinity Series race since July 2014 at Indianapolis. Coming in at the third place in the recent Xfinity Series race was Elliott Sadler, followed by Brennan Poole at fourth and Dakoda Armstrong at fifth.
Erik Jones Honors Dead Father With Latest NASCAR Win
Jones' triumphant NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway was his first since his father Dave died from cancer on June 7. According to Jones, going back into Victory Lane without his father is "special" for him. He said his win was for his father, and he believes that Dave was "riding along" with him, CBS Local further reported.
In an extended tribute quoted by NASCAR's website, Jones said he will miss his father giving him a pre-race pep talk at the racetrack every weekend. He continued, "I'm going to miss seeing you every time I come home, I'm going to miss sharing jokes with you, but most all of I'm going to miss my best friend. I love you dad, and I can't wait to see you again."
