Matt Kenseth, a former NASCAR Cup champion, experienced a complicated professional shift when Erik Jones was announced as his replacement at Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) following the 2017 season. While Kenseth was still competing that year, Jones raced for Furniture Row Racing, a team affiliated with JGR, which added an unusual dynamic between the two drivers. Kenseth recognized Jones as the next driver to take over his position, which served to motivate him to improve his own racing performance in a bid to demonstrate that he still had the skills to compete at a high level for team owner Joe Gibbs.
Jones reflected on their early relationship, explaining,
“Matt knew that he was the guy that was going to be out in that situation and ended up moving to make room for myself coming up through there,”
highlighting why it was initially difficult for them to form a close bond. He added,
“I don’t know that there was any animosity from him towards me, and obviously, there was none from me to him. But when you’re getting replaced, it’s never an easy situation.”
Though the news of Jones replacing him stung, Kenseth understood the nature of professional racing decisions by team owners and manufacturers, rather than personal conflict. Kenseth remarked,
“I’ve been around it for a long time, and the owners and other people make those decisions.”
He further acknowledged,
“To be fair, Erik was Toyota’s guy at the time. He was Kyle’s [Busch] guy, Coach’s [Joe Gibbs] guy and was running really well and having a ton of success. I wasn’t exactly a spring chicken, so if you look at it, objectively, you can’t really blame anyone for that.”
Reuniting at Legacy Motor Club under Jimmie Johnson
By 2023, Kenseth and Jones found themselves working together once again, this time with Jones driving for Legacy Motor Club, co-owned by former NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson. Kenseth, who had retired from full-time racing, joined the team as a competition advisor, with a key focus on helping Jones enhance his driving abilities. Their renewed professional association allowed them to build a stronger relationship than their initial encounter years earlier.
Kenseth acknowledged the unique nature of their renewed partnership:
“Erik and I have always gotten along, but we never really knew each other at a high level at all.”
He also reflected on his feelings about leaving JGR, saying,
“It was somewhat interesting because when I left Gibbs, they decided not to bring me back. I wholeheartedly wanted to be back for another year or two before I retired, and they replaced me with Erik, which makes it kind of interesting.”
Kenseth noted that Jones shared similar apprehensions due to the unfamiliarity between them, since Jones took over the car after Kenseth’s departure.
Despite their initial distance, both drivers moved beyond that phase. Kenseth’s eagerness to perform was driven by a desire to prove he retained his competitive edge, as demonstrated when he finished fourth in the 2017 summer night race at Bristol. He shared,
“I was really more thinking about, ‘That’s my replacement, and I better run him down and pass him to show him I can still do it better than he can.’”
He added,
“It’s human nature. Whoever you’re catching for the lead, you’re always thinking something about them, right? Where you can sniff the victory, your mindset changes a little bit. It’s not just another car, it’s the leader, so you think things like that every once in a while. My brain’s a scary place.”
Erik Jones’ Recent Climb in the Standings
Jones has recently made a strong push up the NASCAR Cup standings. After securing a fifth-place finish in the Atlanta night race, he rose to 16th in the rankings, which marks the cutoff point for the playoffs. His position improved significantly from 30th place following the Talladega race, injecting fresh motivation and confidence as there are still eight races left in the season for him to ascend further.
The influence of Kenseth’s guidance has been a key factor in Jones’ improvement. The two have put any past unease behind them and now focus on collaborative progress, avoiding dwelling on their earlier professional transition at JGR. Kenseth shared insight into the team’s development this season, saying,
“To be totally honest, we started the year not taking as big of a step forward as I expected or was hoping we would take.”
He noted recent progress:
“I feel like we took a pretty big leap within the last [seven or eight] weeks. We’ve had cars — both (Jones and teammate John Hunter Nemechek) or one of them — that were capable of running in the top 10. I don’t know if we had cars last year capable of running in the top 10, but once or twice.”
Kenseth concluded,
“It’s been a big leap, but there’s a long way to go to get to where we want to be.”
The Significance of Their Evolving Partnership
The renewed collaboration between Kenseth and Jones at the Legacy Motor Club, under the ownership of Jimmie Johnson, showcases the unpredictable nature of professional sports relationships. What began with competition and replacement evolved into mentorship and mutual respect. Kenseth’s role as a competition advisor has significantly contributed to Jones reclaiming form and confidence within the Cup Series.
As the 2024 NASCAR season progresses, Jones aims to maintain his upward trajectory and secure a playoff spot, while Kenseth’s continued involvement ensures valuable experience is passed along. This Jimmie Johnson NASCAR team reunion highlights the potential for former rivals to unite and thrive under new circumstances, offering a compelling narrative for fans and participants in the sport alike.
