Conner Jones Bio
Conner Jones (born February 22, 2006) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He most recently competed part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the Nos. 41 and 44 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs for Niece Motorsports. Jones began his career in go-karts at five years old and has built a resume that includes championships in Bandolero, Young Lions, and Pro Late Model competition, along with starts in the ARCA Menards Series and the CARS Late Model Stock Tour.
Competing primarily in short-track and developmental series during his teenage years, Jones advanced into NASCAR’s national touring divisions by his mid-teens. His career has been supported by his family’s construction business, Jones Utilities Construction Inc., which serves as a primary sponsor on his race vehicles.
Early Life and Background
Conner Jones was born on February 22, 2006, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He grew up in a household connected to both the construction industry and grassroots racing, which shaped his early introduction to motorsports. His father, Robert Jones, founded Jones Utilities Construction Inc. in 1997, a full-service underground utility and fiber optic construction contractor that has since become a prominent sponsor of his son’s racing efforts.
Jones began racing at five years old in go-karts, the traditional starting point for many aspiring stock car drivers. In 2017, he captured the Bandolero Bandit Virginia state championship, signaling his early competitiveness in entry-level stock car categories. The following year, he transitioned into Legends car racing and earned his first career victory at Dominion Raceway, a short track located in Virginia.
By 2019, Jones had moved into the INEX Virginia State Young Lions division on a full-time basis, winning the championship with six victories, twelve runner-up finishes, and two third-place results. That same year, he made his late model debut at Hickory Motor Speedway, finishing third in his first start in the heavier, more powerful cars.
Path to NASCAR
Jones took a significant step forward in 2020 by competing in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, racing primarily at Hickory Motor Speedway and Dominion Raceway. He ranked eleventh at Hickory and thirteenth at Dominion, gaining valuable experience against seasoned short-track competitors. These weekly races served as a proving ground and helped prepare him for regional touring series competition.
In 2021, Jones ran the full CARS Late Model Stock Tour season, splitting his car between GMS Racing at Caraway Speedway and JR Motorsports in four events. He ended the year eleventh in the championship standings with three top-ten finishes. The following season, he returned to the CARS Late Model Stock Tour and earned his first victory in the series at Hudson, improving to tenth in the final standings.
His first steps into NASCAR’s national development pipeline came in 2021, when he signed with GMS Racing to compete in the ARCA Menards Series East event at the Nashville Fairgrounds. He started eighth and finished fourth in that debut, then added additional ARCA starts with Cook-Finley Racing and Steve McGowan Motorsports, establishing himself as a young driver capable of competing at higher levels.
Conner Jones Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Jones’s earliest documented success came in 2017, when he won the Bandolero Bandit Virginia state championship as an 11-year-old. The victory marked him as one of the more promising young drivers in the region and opened doors to larger and faster equipment.
He expanded into Legends cars in 2018 and scored his first victory at Dominion Raceway before committing to the INEX Virginia State Young Lions series full-time in 2019. His championship that season, featuring six wins, demonstrated his consistency and race craft. By 2020, he was running weekly at Hickory and Dominion, gaining the seat time necessary to attract attention from higher-profile teams.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Jones made his ARCA Menards Series East debut on May 1, 2021, at the Nashville Fairgrounds with GMS Racing, finishing fourth after starting eighth. Later that season, he contested two additional events with Cook-Finley Racing at Iowa and Bristol, and closed the year with a start for Steve McGowan Motorsports at Phoenix Raceway in the ARCA Menards Series West finale.
In 2022, Jones joined Venturini Motorsports for a partial ARCA Menards and ARCA East schedule. Across seven combined starts, he recorded three top-ten finishes, with a best result of third coming in the East Series event at Dover Motor Speedway. The following season, he continued in ARCA and posted three top-five finishes in the main series, further solidifying his reputation as a rising developmental talent.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2023–2024)
On February 13, 2023, ThorSport Racing announced that Jones would drive nine races in the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, piloting the No. 66 entry. He earned four top-20 finishes and ended the year ranked 33rd in the championship standings. ThorSport confirmed his return to the No. 66 truck for 2024 on a part-time basis.
Jones’s 2024 Truck Series campaign included thirteen starts, but he was unable to crack the top ten, finishing 31st in points with six top-20 results. The season was overshadowed by a deliberate crash into Matt Mills at Homestead-Miami Speedway, which resulted in a two-lap park-it penalty from NASCAR during the race and a one-race suspension the following week at Martinsville. On January 13, 2025, it was reported that Jones would not return to ThorSport Racing for the 2025 season, leading to his later move to Niece Motorsports.
Niece Motorsports Era (2025–Present)
After his departure from ThorSport Racing, Jones transitioned to Niece Motorsports for the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, driving the Nos. 41 and 44 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs on a part-time schedule. The move paired him with one of the more established Chevrolet teams in the Truck Series paddock and offered a fresh opportunity to reset his trajectory.
His role with Niece Motorsports allowed him to continue developing at the national level while balancing his ongoing commitments in late model and short-track competition. The team’s Chevrolet equipment aligned with his prior experience in GM-powered race cars.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jones built his reputation on short tracks, where precise braking, late-corner throttle control, and close-quarters racing are essential. His experience across Bandolero, Legends, and Late Model categories sharpened his race craft, particularly in tight, side-by-side battles. Working with established teams such as GMS Racing, Venturini Motorsports, ThorSport Racing, and Niece Motorsports has helped him refine his feedback with crew members and adapt to longer, higher-speed ovals.
Notable Races and Milestones
Jones’s first ARCA Menards Series East top-five came at the Nashville Fairgrounds in 2021, while his breakthrough Truck Series ride was announced in February 2023. He earned a CARS Pro Late Model title at the 2023 World Series of Asphalt and won the 2024 Battle of the Stars, both of which underscored his continued strength in Late Model competition. His 2022 CARS Late Model Stock Tour win at Hudson and his 2024 Battle of the Stars victory stand out as signature short-track achievements.
Conner Jones Career Wins
Conner Jones has accumulated victories across multiple developmental stock car series, beginning with regional karting championships and extending into Late Model and Pro Late Model competition. His wins reflect steady progression from Virginia short tracks to nationally recognized events, supported throughout by his family-owned sponsor, Jones Utilities Construction Inc.
CARS Late Model Stock Tour Highlights
Jones competes regularly in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour, where he has recorded multiple top-ten finishes and at least one victory. In 2021, he ran the full CARS Late Model Stock Tour season and finished eleventh in points with three top-tens, splitting time between GMS Racing and JR Motorsports. In 2022, he returned to win at Hudson and climbed to tenth in the final standings, marking his first series victory.
Other Wins and Performances
In 2017, Jones won the Bandolero Bandit Virginia state championship, and in 2019 he captured the INEX Virginia State Young Lions title. He also won the 2023 World Series of Asphalt Pro Late Model championship and the 2024 Battle of the Stars, both significant accomplishments in the Pro Late Model community. These results positioned him as a regular contender in the CARS Pro Late Model Tour.
Conner Jones Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Conner Jones comes from a Virginia family rooted in the construction industry and grassroots motorsports. His father, Robert Jones, founded Jones Utilities Construction Inc. in 1997, a full-service underground utility and fiber optic construction contractor. The company has been a central sponsor of Conner’s racing endeavors, providing financial backing across his karting, Late Model, ARCA, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series programs.
Personal Life
Jones was raised in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and continues to be closely tied to his home state, where much of his early racing took place on familiar short tracks such as Dominion Raceway and Hickory Motor Speedway. His family’s construction business remains closely associated with his racing identity.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a fresh start for Conner Jones after his departure from ThorSport Racing was reported in January 2025. He joined Niece Motorsports to drive the Nos. 41 and 44 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on a part-time basis, aligning with a Chevrolet program known for its competitive Truck Series operations. The transition gave him an opportunity to rebuild momentum following a turbulent 2024 campaign.
Operating on a limited schedule, Jones focused on consistency and adapting to Niece Motorsports’ systems and Chevrolet Silverado RST package. The part-time role allowed him to continue his development without the pressure of a full-season points campaign, while still competing against established Truck Series regulars.
Looking ahead, Jones’s outlook centers on expanding his Truck Series presence and leveraging his short-track strengths across a broader range of ovals. Continued partnership with Niece Motorsports and the backing of Jones Utilities Construction Inc. position him to pursue additional seat time and potential top-ten finishes as the team refines its program.
