Toyota Racing – Brandon Jones
NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS)
Texas Motor Speedway – March 29, 2019
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Brandon Jones was made available to the media in Texas:
BRANDON JONES, No. 19 jdgibbslegacy.com Toyota Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing
How much do you enjoy racing here at Texas?
“I’ve had a lot of fun times at this track. Last year I had a stage win here and really had a great car. Got on the outside a little too much and got loose. I think that having this traction compound that they put down this weekend is going to change everything a little bit. It may change the line up some. We may run up on that second or third groove, but without watching just yet I’m not sure where we’re going to be. Love coming to Texas and love coming to the state as well.”
What is the layout like at this race track from a strategy perspective?
“For driver and crew chief it’s kind of difficult to get the car perfectly balanced for each corner. You really have to figure out which corner you’re going to pass in and then work on that the most you can. Normally if you get one and two good, you’re really good in three and four. Maybe that’s the section that we work on, but one and two being really, really lightly banked, it’s definitely a way different corner than three and four. You actually have to use a little bit of brake in our car some to make our car stay on the bottom some, but by the time you get to three and four, you slow it down so much that you can almost go wide open through there with so much banking. The track still has a lot of grip even though it’s been a couple years since it’s been repaved. Starting to get some character to it and there’s some bumps that are starting to pop up now and some seams that are starting to affect the track some.”
What kind of progress do you think you’re making this season and is Texas a track you can win?
“I think it is and especially with this being a Dash 4 Cash qualifying race and definitely want to try to get into that. We’ve been close a few times in the past. I think this is our year to start challenging for that and this is not a better track that we could have to do it at. This year’s been going good expect for the incident at Vegas, that’s really the only incident we’ve had. As far as what we started off with, top-10s and top-fives is where we need to be and if we run there long enough, we’ll be in the winner’s circle soon.”
Has it been a struggle to have the car fast when you unload at the track each weekend?
“It’s probably one of the things I’ve been working on really hard is just having natural speed right off the hauler and not having to waste a whole set of tires trying to get up to speed at the track. Using the simulator at Toyota a lot for that honestly, just preparing to get it right off the truck really quick. That’s something I’ve been working on and it’s been showing for us pretty good.”
How confident are you heading into this race?
“I was so close I felt like last year to having a shot at least to win this race. We had that stage win there and I think we finished second the first stage and I just got too high and took myself out of contention. This weekend is going to be it, I think this is going to be the one to focus on as much as I can. We’ve had a great start to the year so far and we’ve been close. Hopefully Texas is it, I love this state, I love coming to this track and we’ve got a special paint scheme on with us this weekend with J.D. Gibbs Legacy so hopefully we can do it for the Gibbs family and that’s what we’re going to be trying for.”
Why does it mean so much to have J.D. Gibbs Legacy on your Supra this weekend?
“I guess Coach (Gibbs) kind of selected me and trusts me with that scheme to be able to carry it and we’re going to do it with honor and as best we can.”
Do you think of fast speeds when you think of the Texas track?
“It’s been a while since it’s been repaved and it’s starting to get some bumps here and there and some characteristics to it, but three and four are still so unique that you can almost run flat through it. You’re having to lift a little bit now, but it’s got a ton of grip still.”
What would it mean to win this race with J.D. Gibbs Legacy on the car?
“I don’t even know how to put it into words to be honest. I’ve got family in Arkansas so they’re about four hours from here and so this would almost be close to them and it would just be an overwhelming experience for me.”
