Aimee
NEWTON, Iowa — No one’s ever questioned the talent Erik Jones possesses.
His luck?
That’s another matter entirely.
But Friday at Iowa Speedway, both skill and good fortune finally co-existed for the 18-year-old Kyle Busch Motorsports driver, who powered to his second career N triumph in the American Ethanol 200.
“Glad we could get out and command the race and bring it home,” said Jones, who led 131 laps and held off a spirited charge from Brad Keselowski Racing’s Ryan Blaney, who settled for second.
He brought it home in one piece, too.
Jones, who runs a 12-race schedule, was wrecked while leading late in the June 14 race at Gateway Motorsports Park outside of St. Louis.
He was running in the top five when another truck sent him spinning on a late restart in the March 30 race at Martinsville.
“You really want to try to make your mark every time you get in (the truck),” Jones said. “It’s a tough industry and when you get in and you get turned around or something like that, it’s just really a bummer and it kind of takes that week and you have to throw it away. When you only get so many opportunities, it makes it really hard as a young guy.”
Not that he’s complaining.
His turn at the wheel of the No. 51 Toyota put the truck into Victory Lane for the sixth time this season — and the first time when owner Kyle Busch wasn’t driving.
“It was definitely fun,” Jones said. “I had a lot of fun — two young guys battling hard there for the win. Pretty hungry.”
