Erik Jones’ promising Sprint Cup debut ends in crash

Erik Jones’ promising Sprint Cup debut ended in a single-car crash off Turn 4 Saturday night at Kansas Speedway.

The 18-year-old, considered one of NASCAR’s rising stars, was running in the top 10 when his car broke loose in traffic and made heavy contact with the outside wall. Immediately he took the No. 18 Toyota to the garage for repairs; he would eventually return to the track and finish 40th, 25 laps down.

“I learned a lot about racing up front and racing with these guys,” Jones said. “It’s definitely nice to be as fast as we were. I just got loose off (Turn) four and lost it. All my fault, guess I have to go back and figure it out. You know, we had a good night before that. Something to take from it.”

Before crashing, Jones had an impressive debut. (Jones drove in relief for teammate Denny Hamlin last month at Bristol Motor Speedway, but because Hamlin started the race he was considered the driver of record.)

Starting ninth, Jones fell back early as he struggled with a poor handling car and a malfunctioning radio. Following early pits, he then began working his way forward, posting some of the fastest lap times of the race. Just laps before his accident, he was running third and had been consistently in the top 10.

“I just lost it and it’s too bad. I had such a good night going,” Jones said. “It’s just a matter of trying to get a little better on my end and figuring out where the limit is. Unfortunately, we found it there.”

Jones’ performance in his first official Cup race turned heads. Right after he crashed, Chad Knaus, crew chief for race winner Jimmie Johnson, radioed to the No. 48 team: “I really hate that for him. He was doing a damn good job.”

The next start for Jones, a full-time driver in the Camping World Truck Series, is undetermined. Joe Gibbs Racing tabbed him to fill in at Kansas, as regular driver Kyle Busch is still recovering from injuries sustained in a Feb. 21 crash during an Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Busch broke his right leg and left foot and has not raced since.

Matt Crafton drove for Busch in the season-opening Daytona 500, with David Ragan taking over the following week at Atlanta Motor Speedway. But wanting to give Jones a chance and with Busch to return soon, JGR allowed Ragan to move to Michael Waltrip Racing full-time.

The team has not named who will drive the No. 18 car in next week’s All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. If Busch doesn’t come back, Jones will likely remain in the seat.

“I’m excited for hopefully my next opportunity, whenever that is,” Jones said. “It was a good night overall -- lot that I learned and a lot that I can take from it.

“I’m ready to do another one -- I hope I get another shot.”