Brandon Jones (racing driver)

Racing career

Jones began racing in 2010 at age 13, under the supervision of short track racer Bubba Gale and his son former KHI development driver Cale Gale. Jones would race full-time in 2011 in the pro truck divisions at Lanier Raceplex and Gresham Motorsports Park in Georgia, winning track points championships at both facilities. Jones raced in late models for Eddie Sharp Racing in 2012, competing in the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) and United Auto Racing Association (UARA) series. Jones would make his debut in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East later that year at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, finishing 14th in the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet after wrecking on the last lap while running in fifth place. In 2013 at the age of 15, Jones signed a contract to drive for Turner Motorsports (later Turner Scott Motorsports) to run the full UARA season, the PASS Series, six races in the K&N East Series and one in the West series, and selected NASCAR Late Model Stock races. Cale Gale and Mike Greci would serve as crew chiefs for Jones. Jones would also make his national series debut in the Camping World Truck Series for TSM, running the No. 33 truck for the team beginning at Bristol Motor Speedway in August. Jones finished 27th at Bristol, 20th at Iowa, and 19th at Martinsville.

In 2014, Jones would move into the K&N Pro Series East full-time for Turner Scott Motorsports, joining fellow teenager Ben Rhodes. Jones also ran an expanded Truck Series schedule and select ARCA Racing Series events. Jones' efforts would be headed by another former driver Shane Huffman. Jones won his debut ARCA race at Winchester Speedway, scored a second win at Indianapolis Raceway Park and finished third at Madison International Speedway. He would score his first K&N Pro Series win at Iowa Speedway in August, holding off former teammate Kenzie Ruston and Cole Custer. After 14 of 16 races in the K&N East Series and three Truck Series races, which included a fourth-place finish at Dover, Jones would part ways with TSM due to internal issues in the organization, joining Richard Childress Racing for the remaining K&N races. Jones would run the 33 truck for GMS Racing in two additional races, sponsored by Rheem brand Russell. He would finish 4th in the K&N Pro Series East standings.

For 2015, RCR signed Jones to a part-time schedule in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, sharing the No. 33 Chevrolet Camaro with Childress' grandson Austin Dillon and Paul Menard. When Jones raced in his final Xfinity race in 2015, he scored his first top 5 and his career-best finish as a 5th place outing. Jones also ran a part-time schedule in the ARCA Racing Series, sharing the No. 25 Menards Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports with ARCA legend Frank Kimmel. In January, it was announced that Jones would return to GMS Racing for 16 Truck Series races in 2015. Jones also ran select K&N Pro Series East races for NTS Motorsports. On September 24, RCR announced that Jones would begin competing full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2016. Jones also joined Ranier Racing to compete part-time in the Truck Series, driving the No. 71. Jones started the season with a 7th place finish after being involved in the first crash at Daytona. Then at Talladega, Jones had his breakout race, leading the most laps, 31 total, then finishing 18th.

To start off 2017, Jones won his first career Xfinity Series pole at Daytona with a speed of 184.472 mph. In the race, Jones would run in the top 10 up until lap 29 when he was hit in the right rear by Justin Allgaier. This caused Jones to turn hard right into the SAFER Barrier nearly head on at 185mph. He walked away from the crash unharmed. In an interview following, Jones called the crash "The hardest hit I've ever had."

Personal life

Brandon Jones is the son of JR Jones, President and CEO of Rheem Comfort Products, which has sponsored Jones (until 2015), Kevin Harvick, Turner Scott Motorsports, RCR, and several other teams through their Rheem, RUDD, Richmond, and Russel/HTPG brands.

Jones graduated from Lake Norman High School in Mooresville, North Carolina.

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Camping World Truck Series

^* Season still in progress
¹ Ineligible for series points

ARCA Racing Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)