Eric Jones Race Report

Special fromParagon Racing Team

Quick turnaround for 15-year-old Erik Jones after a rough night at Columbus; Anderson up next

Byron, MI (June 2, 2011) - Erik Jones had high hopes heading into the CoughlinCars.com 100 Presented by JEGS.com on Saturday, May 28th at Columbus Motor Speedway in Columbus, Ohio. The Memorial Day Holiday Weekend would see the Byron, Michigan teenager celebrating his 15th birthday on Memorial Day Monday, so what better birthday present then his first win of 2011?

In the second ever race within the inaugural season for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by GM Performance Parts, the day started off well enough for Jones as he was quickest in Practice around the 1/3 (0.333) mile semi-banked paved oval. He would win his first Keyser Manufacturing Fast Qualifier Award with a 13.796 which measured out to 86.982mph.

He would then draw a five for an inversion and was looking to get to the front from his fifth starting position. He knew he’d have his work cut out for him with the stellar field in front of and behind him. "Our Paragon Corvette Reproductions Chevrolet was fast right out of the box, after a few laps around the track I knew that this was going to be a fast racecar." Explained the now 15-year-old. "Getting fast time and establishing the track record meant a lot to me and my whole team, it was great to get a pole in the second race of the season."

As Jones worked his way up to second, on lap 27, contact with another car sent Jones into a spin and he was slapped by another machine that had nowhere to go. Forced to pit, Jones would restart at the rear of the field. "The car suffered a lot of front end damage. But this Paragon Racing Team never gave up. After several trips to the pits and a missing front bumper, we still managed an 11th place finish." Jones continued.

"It’s not the finish we set out for, but given the obstacles we faced, to make it to the checkered flag was a huge accomplishment for our team." He added. "Big Thanks to our entire crew who never gave up the whole race." He ended. Jones currently sits second place in the JEGS/CRA/GM point’s standings, just nine markers behind point’s leader, Eddie Hoffman (199-190).

There’s very little turnaround time to fix the damage from Columbus as race #3 in the inaugural season for the JEGS/CRA/GM series is on Saturday, June 4th at the fast ¼ (0.250) mile high-banked paved oval of Anderson Speedway in Anderson, Indiana for the running of the Anderson 100 Presented by JEGS.com.

For the 2011 racing season, Car Owners, Dave and Carol Jones have assembled a top notch put crew which consists of; Crew Chief Butch VanDoorn, along-with Two-Time Defending CRA Super Series Champion Johnny VanDoorn, as well as Branden Lines, Barry Bramblett, Brandon Rose, and Ken Bond.

Jones' #4 Chevrolet Impala will carry primary sponsorship from Paragon Corvette Reproductions as well as, CG Financial Services, Snap Fitness, Simpson Race Products, Looby & Baumgarten CPA's, M.P.H. Promotions, Port City Racecars, 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.erikjonesracing.com