“We’re getting close, I think I’ll be back in the No. 43,” Erik Jones to be likely retained by Petty GMS for 2023


“We’re getting close, I think I’ll be back in the No. 43,” Erik Jones to be likely retained by Petty GMS for 2023

Erik Jones

Erik Jones who sports the No.43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Petty GMS Motorsports as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver thinks that he is yet to stay with the team for the next season too after racing with them since 2021 by replacing now 23X1 Racing’s Bubba Wallace and he remained with the team for this season too joined by Ty Dillon in the No.42 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and appears to be anticipating a contract extension sooner rather than later.

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If Erik Jones does get a deal signed with the team within this weekend, he would become the third driver to do that after Martin Truex Jr. announced his return in the Joe Gibbs Racing‘s No.19 Toyota Camry and also Ricky Stenhouse Jr. revealed his multi-year deal which will see him return with JTG Daugherty Racing in the No.47 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and now Erik Jones is sure that he too will soon be announcing his return with Petty GMS.

He is confident and appears to have improved over the time despite having a mediocre season with the team last year after posting just six top 10s in 2021 finishing 24th in the points table at the end of the season and with 10 more regular-season races to go, the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion Erik Jones looks strong this season after posting five top 10 finishes already and he is also the first driver to have won the Rookie of the Year award in all three NASCAR formats.

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“I’ve been happy with being in the 43 car, especially this season with what we’ve done,” Erik Jones is affirmative of a contract extension in the coming days

erik jones
Erik Jones celebrates his 2015 Camping World Truck Series win

Erik Jones is now confident more than ever after having a comparatively successful season that he would surely get his partnership with Petty GMS extended and he added by saying that he’s very close to striking a deal and they’ve been in those talks for weeks now and currently making sure of all the things required and he thinks he’ll return.

“We’re getting close, obviously, I’ve been in talks with Petty GMS now for about a month I guess at this point. Just kind of finishing things up. Back and forth on all the little stuff, right, that makes a difference. We’re going through that but I feel like we’re getting close, I think I’ll be back in the No. 43 as far at this point so we’ll see, obviously gotta button a few things up here,” said Erik Jones.

He added by talking about how grateful he is for working with the team and that he wants to continue doing that with the group and also said that there is still a lot left to understand, learn and improve on as a team so he really looks forward to doing that with the team and also thanked his crew chief Dave Elenz and the whole pit crew for making it all possible.

“I’ve been happy with the group and happy with where we’ve been going. We’ve been racing well. Want to stay over there for sure. We’ve got stuff we can continue to get better on and keep getting better at, but I’ve been happy with my team, with Dave Elenz, No. 43 crew chief, and everybody there,” added Erik Jones.

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He concluded by saying that he still hasn’t heard from anyone about the fact that SHR is on the lookout for a driver which suggests that they are looking to replace him and that doesn’t seem to be the case and he is aware that he shouldn’t be conversing with other teams regarding this matter at this point and ended by saying that he is extremely satisfied with the team’s progress and all that they’ve achieved this season.

“I haven’t heard from the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing team, which has an opening for 2023, I can’t really talk to other teams at this point but I’ve been happy with being in the 43 car, especially this season with what we’ve done as far as a group and the way we’re going, the direction we’re going,” concluded Erik Jones.

With a 16th-place standing in the points table, Erik Jones is on the must-win toll to secure his spot in the playoffs for the 2022 season.

Also read: 23X1 Racing’s Bubba Wallace nominated for the Sportsman of the Year Award

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