Special From Paragon Racing Team
Byron, Michigan (April 13, 2011): As Erik Jones progresses through his budding racing career, one thing comes to mind when the 14-year-old thinks about the upcoming 2011 racing season; A Championship. That’s the #1 goal in the mind of the Byron, Michigan teenager as well as his entire Paragon Racing Team. The Championship they’re pursuing is the Inaugural JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by GM Performance Parts title.
"We’ve been working on the cars all winter getting them ready for the race season this year. We've already ran a few races earlier this season at Lanier (National Speedway in Braselton, Georgia) and South Alabama (Speedway in Opp, Alabama). We had a great run going in Alabama until we broke an oil cooler," Remarked Jones as he continues preparations for the remainder of the season. "I think this (JEGS/CRA/GM) is going to be a great new series, and we go to a lot of great race tracks, and some that I have not been too."
The chase for the JEGS/CRA/GM Championship begins at a track he’s familiar with, the famed ½ (0.500) mile high-banked paved oval of Toledo Speedway, located right across the Michigan / Ohio state line in Toledo, Ohio for the running of the inaugural event for the Salem, Indiana based series; the Toledo 100 Presented by JEGS.com. Last season at Toledo in the now defunct Northern Late Model Series, Jones shattered the track record for Template Body / Crate Motor cars in Qualifying.
"We had a great season last year, and I hope we can improve on that this year." The Byron High School Freshman added. "Toledo is one of my favorite race tracks that I have been to so far, and I'm excited to race there again. We had a great run going there last year in the old Northern Late Model Series, we broke the track record, but then we got caught up in a wreck on lap 63. We plan on making a run for the championship this season in JEGS/CRA/GM and I think we have a great team to be able to pursue this." Jones ended.
Jones comes into the upcoming 2011 campaign armed with one of the top rising stars amongst Crew Chiefs in North America in 19-year-old Butch VanDoorn, who’s older brother, Coopersville, Michigan standout, Johnny VanDoorn is the Two-Time Defending CRA Super Series Champion in Champion Racing Association’s (CRA) premiere touring series.
In addition to his full schedule in the JEGS/CRA/GM series, Jones also plans on making his CRA Super Series debut later in the year and will be making select appearances there as well as running events in the new Premier Boyne Super Late Model Series over on the Westside of his home state at the famed Berlin Raceway, located West of Grand Rapids in Marne, Michigan.
Amongst his list of accomplishments in 2010 in the old Northern Late Model Series includes Two Wins in the series with his first career Win coming at the track closest to his Byron, Michigan home; Dixie Motor Speedway in Birch Run, Michigan as he scored the popular win after outdueling eventual 2010 Series Champion, Eddie Hoffman to win the Bob Cross Memorial 100 on August 20th.
Then Jones became the youngest driver in the 41-year history of one of the most tradition laden, end of the season, special events in the country; Oktoberfest Weekend at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem, Wisconsin to win a Feature as Jones led all 100 laps of the John and Sue McKarns 100 on October 9th to capture his Second Victory of the year while securing the 2010 Rookie of the Year title and a Third Place Overall finish in the former Northern Late Model Series.
Jones began his racing career at the age of seven racing Quarter Midgets as a member of Mid Michigan Racing Association (MMRA) in Waterford, Michigan and was recognized as the MMRA Rookie of the Year. In 2007, he was the MMRA Light 160 Champion. In 2008 while still in Quarter Midgets, he moved up into the Light AA and World Formula classes and while competing in the 2008 Eastern Grands in Connecticut, he set fast time and a new track record in World Formula. He also qualified his Light AA into the A-Main and finished second overall.
The 2009 season began with Jones competing in the Pure Stock division at the Owosso Speedway and Three weeks into the season, the decision was made to move the then 12-year-old Jones into a more advanced division, the Pro Stocks, and the results were impressive. He scored one feature win, which came on August 29th after beating defending track champion, Leo Smith in one of the most thrilling races of the season.
Overall in 2009, Jones also racked up Three Top Five finishes and an impressive eight top 10 showings in 11 starts. Jones also scored two preliminary heat race wins as well to finish Eighth in the final points standings and win the 2009 Rookie of the Year title.
For the 2011 racing season, Car Owners, Dave and Carol Jones have assembled a top notch put crew which consists of; Butch VanDoorn, John VanDoorn, Branden Lines, Barry Bramblett, Ken Bond, and Brandon Rose. Jones' #4 Chevrolet Impala will carry primary sponsorship from Paragon Corvette Reproductions as well as Port City Race Cars, Simpson Race Products, CG Financial Services, Webster Looby & Baumgarten, M.P.H. Promotions, and Paragon Racing Team.
To learn more about Erik Jones and the Paragon Racing Team and to inquire about sponsorship opportunities for the 2011 racing season, log onto the teams' website at www.paragonracingteam.com
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