Jagger_Jones

Jagger Jones

Jagger Jones

American auto racing driver

Jagger Jones (born July 29, 2002) is an American professional racing driver. He competed in Indy NXT for Cape Motorsports in 2023.[1] Jones previously competed in the U.S. F2000 National Championship with Cape Motorsports.[2] He also competed in what is now the ARCA Menards Series West full-time in 2019, driving the No. 6 Ford for Sunrise Ford Racing.

Quick Facts Nationality, Born ...

He is the grandson of 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner Parnelli Jones and the son of former NASCAR, CART, and sports car driver P. J. Jones.

Early career

Jones began racing go-karts at the age of nine in both the United States and in Europe.[3] He made his late model debut for JR Motorsports at Myrtle Beach Speedway in June 2018,[3] a race he went on to win.[4][5] He later drove two more races for JRM, competing at South Boston Speedway in July and Hickory Motor Speedway in September.[3] Jones won five races at Kern County Raceway Park in 2018, winning the track's NASCAR Whelen All-American Late Model Championship.[5]

Education

Jagger Jones attended Notre Dame Preparatory School. He later graduated from High Point University with a bachelors degree in business administration.

NASCAR series

On January 29, 2019, it was announced that Jones would move up to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West to drive Sunrise Ford Racing's No. 6 Ford.[5] He expressed confidence at the beginning of the season, saying, "I'm going to do my best to use my experience to win some races."[6] Jones nearly won on debut at the Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, leading with one lap remaining before being passed by Hailie Deegan while navigating lapped traffic in turns one and two.[7] Despite being moved out of the bottom lane, Jones held no ill will against Deegan's last-lap move, saying, "I think her move was fine...she didn't really do anything too bad. It's just the lapped car cut me off in front. It just pushed me up the track."[8][9] Jones also drove the NORRA 1000 off-road race in Mexico during 2019.[10]

Despite finishing second in points, winning rookie of the year, and winning one race during the 2019 season in the West Series, Jones did not choose to continue to race with Bruncati's team for the 2020 season.

After not committing to a West Series ride for the beginning of the 2020 season, Jones raced in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series late models at Irwindale Speedway.[11]

Open-wheel career

On November 2, 2021, it was announced that Jones would make his open-wheel racing debut in the U.S. F2000 National Championship driving for Cape Motorsports in 2022.[2] He finished fourth in the standings with one win and four further podiums to his name, being awarded the rookie of the year title.[12]

On September 7, 2022, Cape Motorsports announced that Jones would move up the Road to Indy ladder to Indy NXT in 2023.[1] The season proved to be a challenge, as Jones scored just one top five finish - a second place at Detroit - and ended the year 13th in points.[13]

Sportscar career

Jones made his prototype racing debut in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge at the back end of 2023, driving an LMP3 car for Remstar Racing at Road Atlanta. He would qualify on pole for both races, though a self-inflicted collision in race one and a mechanical problem in race two exterminated his podium chances.[14][15]

The following year, Jones returned to the SportsCar Challenge, sweeping the weekend at St. Petersburg by winning both races from pole position.[16][17]

Personal life

Jones is a third generation driver. His grandfather, Parnelli, won the 1963 Indianapolis 500,[5] while his father, P. J., raced in NASCAR, CART, and sports cars, winning the 1993 24 Hours of Daytona.[18] He is an alumnus of Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Scottsdale, Arizona.[18] Jones is a Dean's List Business major at High Point University, NC. Jones has a younger sibling, Jace, who also races.[10]

Racing record

Career summary

More information Season, Series ...

*Season still in progress.

† As he was a guest driver, he Jones was ineligible to score points.

NASCAR

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

K&N Pro Series West

More information NASCAR K&N Pro Series West results, Year ...

American open-wheel racing results

U.S. F2000 National Championship

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (Races with * indicate most race laps led)

More information Year, Team ...

Indy NXT

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (Races with L indicate a race lap led) (Races with * indicate most race laps led)

More information Year, Team ...

References

  1. [1]
    Staff Report (September 7, 2022). "Jones Signs With Cape Motorsports For Indy Lights In 2023". SPEED SPORT. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  2. [2]
    "Jagger Jones, Parnelli's grandson, joins Cape Motorsports for 2022 USF2000 season". RACER. 2021-11-02. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
  3. [3]
    Lemasters, Ron (June 29, 2018). "Jagger Jones to Make JRM Late Model Debut at Myrtle Beach" (Press release). JR Motorsports. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  4. [4]
    "Jones Wins Nightcap Feature at Myrtle Beach in JRM Debut" (Press release). JR Motorsports. July 2, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  5. [5]
    RACER staff (January 29, 2019). "Jagger Jones, grandson of Parnelli, lands K&N West ride". Racer. Racer Media & Marketing Inc. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  6. [6]
    Weaver, Matt (January 30, 2019). "Jagger Jones, grandson of Parnelli, inks NASCAR K&N West deal". Autoweek. Crain Communications. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  7. [7]
    Seelman, Jacob (March 1, 2019). "Jones Dejected After Missing Out On Sin City Win". Speed Sport. Turn 3 Media, LLC. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  8. [8]
    Segal, Davey (March 1, 2019). "K&N Catch-Up: What We Learned at Vegas". NASCAR Home Tracks. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  9. [9]
    Long, Dustin (March 1, 2019). "Hailie Deegan scores 2nd career K&N Pro Series West win with last-lap pass". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  10. [10]
    Segal, Davey (April 15, 2020). "Episode 51: Jagger Jones". SoundCloud. Victory Lane. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  11. [11]
    Segal, Davey (June 13, 2020). "Jagger Jones Partners With Alec Martinez for Irwindale". Frontstretch. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  12. [12]
    "Jones To Drive for Cape Motorsports in 2023 Lights Season". IndyCar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  13. [13]
    "Gold captures Detroit Indy NXT win; heartbreak for Foster, Siegel". RACER. 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  14. [14]
    Service, IMSA Wire (2024-03-06). "Jones Ready to Take It to the Streets in Series Return – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  15. [15]
    "Garg Puts Finishing Touches on VP Racing Challenge LMP3 Title". imsa.com. 12 October 2023.
  16. [16]
    "Spring Break Sweep at St. Pete for Jones and Lazare". imsa.com. 9 March 2024.
  17. [17]
    Service, IMSA Wire (2024-03-09). "Weekend Sweep for Jones, Lazare Sweep in St. Pete – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  18. [18]
    Bonkowski, Jerry (February 28, 2019). "Parnelli Jones' grandson set to make own racing mark in K&N debut". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  19. [19]
    "Jagger Jones – 2019 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
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