NASCAR has a new first-time winner — 17-year-old Erik Jones from Byron, Mich., the youngest ever in the Camping World Truck Series.
“This is all I’ve ever wanted right here,” said Jones, who pulled off the feat at Phoenix International Raceway on Friday in just his fifth career start on the tour.
Jones started second in his Kyle Busch Motorsports-prepared truck. He held off pole sitter Ross Chastain, 20, by 1.616 seconds at the start-finish line. Jones led 84 of 150 laps.
Chastain finished second, followed by Brendan Gaughan, Ty Dillon and Matt Crafton.
Although Crafton, who leads the truck point standings by 46 over Dillon, didn't clinch the title at Phoenix, he just needs to start the race in next week's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway to win the crown.
Chase Elliott previously held the record for the youngest victor in the truck series when he won at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, on Sept. 1. Elliott was 17 years and 9 months — more than three months older than Jones at the time of his win.
