Brandon Jones joins JGR's 2018 Xfinity Series driver lineup

Christopher Bell will pilot the No. 20 Toyota, Brandon Jones replaces Matt Tifft in the No. 19 Camry, and Ryan Preece has worked his into a more prominent role with the No. 18 team after earning his first career NXS win earlier this year at Iowa Speedway. 

As motorsport.com first reported on Tuesday, Jason Ratcliff will join Bell for his first season on the tour. JGR has named Christopher Gabehart crew chief for Jones, and Eric Phillips will continue his winning ways with the organization’s all-star squad, which will feature Preece along with Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Erik Jones and Daniel Suárez.

 “Our NASCAR XFINITY Series program is so important to us at Joe Gibbs Racing,” team owner Joe Gibbs said in a release. “We are focused on the opportunities we have this weekend in Miami of course, but excited about the talented lineup of drivers we will have competing for us in 2018. The addition of Brandon Jones to our lineup will provide tremendous competition to the Series and give us two opportunities to run for the XFINITY Driver’s Championship, as well as the Owner’s Championship next season. 

“For as young as he is, Brandon has gained a lot of experience across several different series, and we are excited to see what he can do in our equipment and with Chris (Gabehart) leading that team.”

Jones, 20, is currently 16th in the NXS standings in his second season with Richard Childress Racing. He finished a career-high fifth-place at Kentucky Speedway two years ago. Jones also has seven top-five finishes in 35 trucks starts since 2013.

“I’m really fortunate to have gotten as much experience as I have to this point of my career and very thankful to have worked with so many great people and teams over the past several years,” Jones said. “When you look at what JGR has done with Toyota in the XFINITY Series over the past decade the results speak for themselves and I’m excited to go out next season knowing I have an opportunity to be successful each and every week.”

Preece earns more seat time

Preece had a solid audition with JGR earlier this year. The affable 27-year-old finished second at New Hampshire then won from the pole at Iowa two races later. At Kentucky Speedway in Sept., Preece finished fourth. He ended the season with an average qualifying effort of third and an average finish of 2.3.

“Obviously I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunities that I have already had with JGR this season and now to be able to increase the number of races next season is a great step in my career,” Preece said. “I’m looking forward to going out there and make the most out of the opportunity.”

Gibbs says Ratcliff will compliment an already strong stable of crew chiefs in JGR’s NXS program. The company won eight of the first 35 races this season.

“We’re proud of our crew chiefs in that series as well,” Gibbs added. “Jason is someone we obviously have a lot of confidence in, having had great success for us in both the XFINITY and Cup Series. Having Chris (Gabehart) and Eric (Phillips) back gives us proven winners atop each pit box. We believe their experience and ability to work together will really help the development of our young drivers and help our veterans compete for wins each weekend.”