HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Erik Jones’ championship drive during the second half of the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series season has been driven by passion and emotion, in addition to a fast Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

Saturday afternoon, he’ll look to culminate the drive with his second NASCAR national series title, hoping to honor his late father Dave on the frontstretch stage in South Florida.

Dave Jones passed away June 7 after a battle with cancer.

As Erik has explained publically in the months since, his father was instrumental in sparking his career and pushing him to be better each time they were at the race track.

“I cherish every minute that we spent together,” the younger Jones said in a personal letter to his late father after his passing, later posted on Twitter. “(He) sacrificed more for me than I ever had a chance to give back … and all I wish for is to have one more moment (with him).”

“(He) challenged me and pushed me to a level I never thought I could achieve, and showed me I could do things I never thought were possible.”

What has been possible, and is possible, for Jones on Saturday is the chance to become the fourth driver overall and the first driver since Austin Dillon in 2013 to win the XFINITY championship after previously winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title.

Dillon completed the feat in 2011 (NCWTS) and 2013 (NXS), while Jones is hoping to become the first driver to do so in back-to-back seasons (2015 and 2016).

“I learned a lot last year from winning the Truck title,” Jones said. “Last year, I went in being the favorite … and I had never been the favorite before in anything, a race or a championship, so that was different for me and it was all about managing the pressure. I feel like I’ve taken some of that pressure into this year and gotten more comfortable with being the favorite. We know we’re fast, we know we have the speed … and that’s put us in position to win another championship.”

The 20-year-old native of Byron, Michigan has pushed through his life shadows this season with poise and strength far beyond his years, but said this week in advance of the finale that there were times when it was tough for him to be in the racing environment after the loss of his father.

“It’s been a tough year, one of the toughest years of my life,” Jones admitted. “With losing the guy that got me started in racing and was my main man for a long time … it’s been a life-changing experience.”

“He helped me with a lot of things and after he passed I didn’t really want to be at the race track. Having to work through that and dealing with it all has been tough. To cap (the season) off with a championship would mean a lot, no doubt. It’s been rewarding to make it to the final four and to have a shot at closing the year on a high note.”

Jones’ season-to-date has seen four wins, 15 top-fives and 19 top-10s in 32 races entering the Homestead finale, including a emotional victory at Bristol in April after which he announced his father’s cancer diagnosis.

Those wins allowed Jones to easily make the inaugural XFINITY Series Chase, but Jones has been winless in the six Chase races thus far ahead of Saturday afternoon.

If he can break through and go back to Saturday afternoon’s finale race to claim the title, the emotions will surely be flowing again for the former NASCAR Next driver and rising young star.

That scenario will also likely lead to an extra smile from above, should Jones end up on the championship stage.

About the Writer

Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.

Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.

The 22-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as both the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series and the co-track announcer at Millbridge Speedway.

Email Jacob at: [email protected]

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