Erik Jones is now officially a free agent in the NASCAR market.
After not returning to Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 car for the 2021 season, Jones, who has been a full-time Cup Series driver since 2017, signed a one-year contract extension in 2019 to stay with the team for the 2020 season.
Despite a challenging 2020 season where Jones is currently 18th in the points standings and outside the playoff field, he remains one of the best young talents in the Cup Series. With five top-five finishes in 20 races, Jones is among the top performers in the series.
While Jones has struggled with poor finishes in 2020, he has showcased his potential with victories at Daytona in 2018 and Darlington in 2019.
Erik Jones has won two races in three seasons at JGR. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Potential Move for Christopher Bell?
With Jones leaving JGR, it’s likely that Christopher Bell will take over the No. 20 car in 2021. Bell, who currently drives for Leavine Family Racing, is set to find a new team as Leavine Family Racing is shutting down at the end of the season. Bell, with a contract with Toyota, could be a strong contender for the No. 20 car.
Given the presence of top drivers like Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, and Martin Truex Jr. at JGR, the No. 20 car appears to be a suitable option for Bell’s move to JGR in 2021.
Bell, with 16 wins in 74 Xfinity Series starts, has shown promise in his racing career.
Jones’ Potential Options
As a free agent, Jones is expected to have several suitors in the market. Teams like Hendrick Motorsports, Stewart-Haas Racing, and Chip Ganassi Racing could be potential landing spots for Jones, offering him the opportunity to become a perennial contender.
If Jones joins a top-tier team like Hendrick or SHR, he could follow a similar path to Joey Logano, who left JGR in 2012 and found success with Team Penske. Since joining Penske, Logano has won a championship, claimed 23 wins, and consistently finished in the top standings.
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Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports.
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