NASCAR Cup Series

Erik Jones ready to make first Sprint Cup start for JGR at Kansas

Published May. 1, 2015 6:13 p.m. ET

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When Denny Hamlin suffered neck spasms two weeks ago at Bristol Motor Speedway, 18-year-old Erik Jones was thrust into his first NACAR Sprint Cup Series start unexpectedly.

Next weekend at Kansas Speedway, Jones will have the entire weekend to practice and prepare for his first official Sprint Cup start.

Jones will climb behind the wheel of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, filling in for Kyle Busch, who continues to recover from injuries sustained at Daytona International Speedway in February. Jones will be replacing David Ragan, who had served as Busch's sub since the beginning of this season.

Coming off a 26th-place finish at Bristol that officially was credited to Hamlin even though Jones drove all but 23 of 511 laps, Jones is focused on gaining as much seat time and on-track experience as possible next weekend.

"I think keeping our expectations realistic is a pretty big thing for us," Jones said Friday at Talladega Superspeedway. "If we can go run top-15, I'd feel like that would be a pretty big win for us. It's a big step.

"It's not going to be an easy step for anybody, but I really believe we can go run top-15 and if we can do that, I think that would be a good day."

Despite recent reports, Jones said JGR officials have not confirmed additional Sprint Cup Series starts in the No. 18 Toyota beyond next weekend's race at Kansas.

Jones' name has been mentioned as a possible substitute driver for Busch ever since his injury in the XFINITY Series season-opener, yet the team did not rush to put him behind the wheel, instead opting at first for Ragan.

"I've been begging to get in a car since Daytona, so they definitely took their time with it and let me develop this year," Jones said.

During that time, Jones recorded three poles and fives consecutive top-five XFINITY Series finishes, including his first series victory at Texas Motor Speedway. Still, JGR was hesitant to push him into the Sprint Cup Series too early.

The story of a bright JGR prospect being thrust into the Sprint Cup Series is nothing new.

Joey Logano was bumped up to the Sprint Cup level in 2009 when Tony Stewart left to become a driver and part-owner at Stewart-Haas Racing. Logano was a teenage star on the rise and on track to eventually make it into the premier division, but Stewart's departure accelerated the process.

Despite the nickname "Sliced Bread" -- as in the greatest thing since -- Logano floundered in NASCAR's top division until his career was revived at Team Penske in 2013.

Jones is well aware of Logano's example, but believes their two cases are much different.

"I'm stepping in as a fill-in role and I'm running one race right now at Kansas, which is entirely different from Joey's role of stepping in and trying to fill a full season," Jones said. "I feel pretty comfortable with that. I feel like there's a point where you have to make the jump at some point in your career. Whether it's now or a year down the road or two years down the road, I'd have to do it. I feel like this is probably the best situation I could be in to make that jump in a part-time situation like it is. It's a great opportunity and it's a great car."

Jone said the 478 laps he got under his belt at Bristol (the No. 11 car finished six laps down and was credited with 505 laps completed between the two drivers) also have helped make him more comfortable behind the wheel heading into his first official Sprint Cup start.

"It's nerve wracking starting any race, but especially your first one," he said. "(Bristol) did take away some of the I guess unsureness of what's really different about the Cup Series and I definitely think that knocked some of that stuff out of the way, which is nice.

"I don't know if it will take away all the pre-race jitters by any means -- it will still be nerve wracking starting your first official Cup race any time -- but it definitely took some things away for me so when I get in the car at Kansas for practice, I'll feel more comfortable with what I have and what the car's going to do. I'll know a little bit better some of the differences in the car and what I need to prepare for."

VIDEO: Erik Jones subs for Denny Hamlin at Bristol