Erik Jones, driver for Legacy Motor Club in the NASCAR Cup Series, addressed the media on Saturday before practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s ROVAL track. During the session, Jones provided an update on his ongoing efforts with the Erik Jones Foundation, highlighting new initiatives occurring at this weekend’s race. The discussion also covered his recent preparation tactics, family life, and challenges faced during the current season, offering an intensive look at his journey within the sport.
Progress of Erik Jones Foundation’s Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign
Jones outlined how the Erik Jones Foundation has taken charge of the annual pink window net program for the third consecutive year, emphasizing its importance for breast cancer awareness. This program, now a familiar element of NASCAR races on Sundays, has successfully generated donations through auctioned window nets and new fundraising efforts, such as selling pull tabs installed inside race cars.
“Yeah, I’m sure you guys have seen over the last handful of years – the pink window nets have been kind of a thing that has happened every year annually with the window nets on the cars on Sunday, and we’ve been grateful take this program over for the third year now with the Erik Jones Foundation, and obviously raising money for breast cancer awareness. We have three charities that we’re going to donate to this year with the proceeds from this program. A couple of just cool things real quick. Almost every team this year purchased their window nets – that’s already raised $11,000 for the program before the auction even began. The auction opened on Wednesday. And we’re bidding these window nets up, so excited about that. We also added these pull tabs this year, which are on the inside the race cars as well, to help open the window nets, and we’re selling those for $20 apiece on the website to also help raise money, that’ll go towards the funds as well. So pretty fun and been fun to expand it.”
– Erik Jones, NASCAR Driver
This initiative has expanded beyond auctions, with nearly every team contributing by purchasing their window nets, leading to an early raise of over $11,000. The addition of sellable pull tabs inside the race cars marks a new revenue pathway. Through these fundraising efforts, three selected charities will receive donations to support breast cancer awareness.
Road Course Preparation with Expert Guidance
In preparation for the Charlotte ROVAL race and other road course events, Jones shared how Lexus Factory Driver Jack Hawksworth has played a vital role in sharpening his skills. Hawksworth’s extensive experience on road courses guided Jones in refining racing techniques and car handling, an area Jones admitted has been a struggle for his team’s program.
“Yeah, I just ask him a lot of questions on, honestly, I get a lot out of watching him drive and the way he approaches the course on the sim and kind of what he focuses on. So, a lot of my questions are kind of centered around why he’s doing certain things, because I’m just not a road course guy by nature. So, he does things a little bit different sometimes, and I’m curious as to why and figuring those parts and pieces out. I felt like this year, Watkins Glen was when things kind of finally started to click for me in the Next Gen car a little bit on the road courses and what it wanted and needed. And a lot of that was from Jack (Hawksworth, Lexus Factory Driver) and what we’ve kind of went through this year. So, yeah, most of my questions are just centered, you know, I’ve been to all of these road courses, so kind of know how to get around them, but the technique and the little things are where I’m trying to get better and watching him and figuring out why and asking him why has been the biggest part.”
– Erik Jones, NASCAR Driver
Jones indicated that learning from Hawksworth did not begin solely at Charlotte but also at prior events like Mexico. This consultation is a deliberate attempt to elevate the Legacy Motor Club’s road course performance, which has lagged compared to other racing formats. Jones is focused on improving fine techniques and the overall approach to road racing.
Approach to Competing Against Playoff Drivers
Asked about racing against drivers who are competing for playoff standings, Jones explained his respect for those battling for championship advancement. He emphasized that the intensity of his efforts varies depending on race status and position.
“I’ve always, obviously there’s a couple of ways I look at it, I guess. You know, number one, if it’s a day where we’re in contention to win and running really well, I’m going to do everything I can to win. If it’s a day, you know, we’re running 18th, and you got a guy battling through the field and he’s trying to make his way above the cut line. It’s going to be a bit different. You know, I think they’ve earned that respect, right? They raced all year to be in the playoffs, and they’ve worked hard and now be in the Round of 12 and having an opportunity to go to the Round of 8. So, in my opinion, I think it’s fairly disrespectful if you didn’t give them that service a little bit, I would hope to have that returned, in the future, hopefully, when we’re a playoff team and in that spot. I think it’s pretty reciprocal. I think, you know, like I said, they’ve earned that right, so it’s just what you really should be doing.”
– Erik Jones, NASCAR Driver
Jones shows an acute awareness of the competitive landscape and social dynamics within NASCAR, maintaining a balance between aggressive driving and sportsmanship toward playoff-eligible rivals.
Fatherhood’s Influence on Coping and Focus
Jones shared candid thoughts on how becoming a father has affected his mental resilience during the racing season. He described how fatherhood has helped him quickly move past frustrations related to racing mishaps, highlighting how moments with his young son, David, provide an immediate emotional reset.
“Yeah, I think you are forced to get over things quicker. I feel like I’ve always done pretty good of kind of separating, racing and home and I’ve always been a guy that I loved to race, but racing isn’t my life. It’s what I do, right? That’s how I make the living, and it’s what I do. I’ve always been able to kind of separate that from home. But I think it’s made that easier, you know, a day, that’s not gone well. If David’s (Jones’ son) at the track, you get back to the motorhome and as frustrated as maybe you are, he’s smiling and laughing just because you’re back and reaching for you and wanting to hang out, so it’s kind of hard to be mad at that point or even be thinking about the race anymore. I think it’s probably made my approach better, my focus better. I think, you know, for me, I want to be able to one day sit with him and look back and just tell him how I did things and why I did things this way and show him that. So just leading, I guess, by example a little bit has probably been more encouraged just by having him around. But I think it’s made the bad days easier. I think just quicker to get over. It’s made the good days more fun in some ways. So, it’s definitely kind of a balance from before.”
– Erik Jones, NASCAR Driver
This personal growth has translated into better focus during races and a constructive outlook on performance pressures. Jones expressed a desire to inspire his son by setting an example through his professional conduct.
Reflections on the Current Season’s Challenges and Highlights
Jones reflected on this season’s ups and downs, noting a mix of promising performances and areas that need improvement. He identified standout races such as Indy and Darlington as moments where the team showed competitiveness, despite the difficulties in consistently contending for wins.
The driver acknowledged that winning multiple races within a season remains a significant challenge in the current competitive environment, emphasizing the need for regular top finishes to relieve pressure on the entire team.
Jones also pointed out specific weaknesses, particularly surrounding road courses and short tracks, while noting relative strength on mile-and-a-half tracks. He views this year as a foundational period, thanks to improved funding and staffing, aimed at building a stronger presence for the future.
Balancing Immediate Race Goals and Long-Term Development
Looking ahead, Jones described how his strategy varies depending on the track, balancing the pursuit of race wins with development efforts aimed at the 2026 season.
“I guess it’s a bit track dependent. This weekend, tomorrow, , you know, working on definitely improving for ‘26, just with our road course stuff hasn’t been where we’ve wanted. The 42 team had a test at Kershaw (Carolina Motorsports Park), a little while back, hopefully we learned some stuff that we’re trying. It’s a way different package we have here this weekend than what we’ve had on the other road courses, so we’re hoping to learn from that. Looking forward to Talladega, obviously going for the win. Hope we can grab one there. Martinsville, Phoenix, I would say, probably tougher to contend. Phoenix would be really tough to contend with the championship guys. Martinsville will be tough, just with where our program is at. So, you know, Talladega would be a good shot to win, and the rest, I would say, will be continuing to build that notebook now for us.”
– Erik Jones, NASCAR Driver
Jones identified Talladega as a prime opportunity to secure a victory this season, while acknowledging the challenges expected at tracks like Martinsville and Phoenix. His approach highlights a focus on continuous improvement and data gathering to strengthen the team’s prospects beyond the current season.
The Future Impact of Erik Jones NASCAR Update on Legacy Motor Club’s Trajectory
The combination of Jones’ on-track efforts, foundation activities, and personal development reflects a multi-faceted approach to his career and the Legacy Motor Club’s growth. By integrating community engagement through the Erik Jones Foundation and seeking expert advice for performance gaps, Jones reinforces his commitment not just to racing success but also to meaningful social causes.
His mindful racing conduct toward playoff contenders and balanced focus on both short-term wins and long-term program building signify a strategic mindset that could bolster the team’s competitiveness in upcoming seasons. The emphasis on learning from specialized drivers like Hawksworth and capitalizing on experience from challenging tracks indicates a readiness to evolve amid NASCAR’s demanding environment.
As the season progresses, both on-site efforts at events like the Charlotte ROVAL and continued foundation fundraising efforts are expected to enhance Erik Jones’ presence within NASCAR, heightening fan engagement and team performance alike.
