Erik Jones secured a much-needed top-10 finish at Phoenix Raceway on March 8, a rebound that brings hope to the No. 43 Legacy Motor Club team as they work to recover from a rough start to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Overcoming setbacks from the previous races and capitalizing on the chaotic nature of the Phoenix event, Jones’s result marks a step forward for himself, his team, and their focus on the Erik Jones NASCAR Phoenix finish.
The season began with turbulent performances for Jones, who pilots the Toyota Camry for Legacy Motor Club. After a 21st-place result at the Daytona 500—affected by a last-lap collision involving Carson Hocevar and Michael McDowell—his finishes at EchoPark Speedway and Circuit of the Americas landed him well outside the top 20, positioning him at 34th in the driver points standings before arriving at Phoenix. For the No. 43 team, the mission this weekend was clear: start a climb out of the early points deficit with a strong showing in Arizona.
Overcoming Qualifying Setbacks and Early Race Adversity
Due to his points position, Jones was among the earlier qualifiers on Saturday at Phoenix, which meant he did not have the advantage of better track conditions. His qualifying lap placed him 32nd out of 37 cars on the grid for Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 500, setting up a challenging race day ahead.
Despite the unfavorable starting spot, Jones quickly advanced six positions during the opening green flag run. However, a vibration in the car forced him to ease off, leading to a 30th-place finish in Stage One, a lap behind the leader, Ryan Blaney. With the race progressing, Jones found himself fighting to get back on the lead lap at the start of Stage Two.
Maneuvering Through Mid-Race Challenges and Timely Breaks
Trouble for another Toyota driver, Chase Briscoe, who crashed from third place with about 60 laps left in Stage Two, triggered a caution. Jones, then in the crucial ‘free pass’ position, regained a spot on the lead lap—giving his team a renewed chance to fine-tune the car’s handling for longer runs. By the end of the stage, he was up to 24th, still in contention as new opportunities emerged.
“Caution out again on Lap 132. The 43 will get the lucky dog this time. Jones tells the team ‘fall off is bad, fires off fine.’ Was faster overall on the last run.” — LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (@LEGACYMotorClub)
The second part of the race saw the team making incremental gains on the car’s pace, with Jones reporting that he had better initial speed but struggled on longer stints—a common challenge at Phoenix due to tire wear and track temperature changes.
Capitalizing on Late Race Attrition and Finishing Strong
The final stage was marked by an unusual number of cautions for Phoenix, with six yellow flags and several multi-car wrecks. Through this turbulence, Jones managed to avoid the worst incidents, advancing through the field with the help of efficient pit stops by his team. Maintaining focus amid the drama, Jones ultimately crossed the finish line in 10th position—his best career finish at Phoenix in the iconic No. 43 car.
This strong performance significantly improved his standing in the championship, as he climbed from 34th to 28th in the rankings after the race. It was a hard-earned result for a group seeking stability and progress early in the season.
“Man we needed that. Still have places we need to improve but the whole 43 team battled for that top 10. #teamtoyota” — Erik Jones (@Erik_Jones)
Legacy Motor Club Teammates and Notable Races in Lower Series
While Erik Jones celebrated a breakthrough performance for Legacy Motor Club, his teammate John Hunter Nemechek also stood out for bringing bold Mobil 1 graphics to the No. 42 car. Nemechek ran competitively through much of the afternoon until a late-race incident relegated him to 25th place. Earlier, during a caution on lap 287, Nemechek requested more grip, and both he and Jones pitted for fresh tires and fuel to prepare for the race’s final laps.
“Caution out on lap 287. JHN is in P18 and tells the team he needs grip. Erik Jones, in P14, says he needs to be freed up. Both cars pit for 4 tires & fuel.” — LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (@LEGACYMotorClub)
Performance across the broader NASCAR series also delivered dramatic moments at Phoenix. Jeremy Clements, a driver in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, started 21st and charged forward, running inside the top 10 for much of the race and collecting stage points. Clements ultimately finished 11th—his best showing of the season—propelling him up seven positions in the standings. During the race, Clements demonstrated spirited racing by overtaking William Byron for a top-five spot in traffic, though a late-race clash with Sammy Smith pushed him out of the top 10 by the checkered flag.
“.@JClements51 straight up passing William Byron on speed for a spot in the top five on a one-mile track? 🤯” — Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing)
“Jeremy Clements brings it home in 11th but was not happy with Sammy Smith, saying he owes his one. #NASCAR” — Bryan Nolen (@TheBryanNolen)
Looking Ahead to Las Vegas and the Rest of the Season
With momentum from his Phoenix run, Erik Jones and the No. 43 Legacy Motor Club crew now set their sights on Las Vegas Motor Speedway, closing out NASCAR’s early West Coast schedule next weekend. In recent years, Jones’s performances at Las Vegas have been mixed, with last season’s results of 27th and 15th and a notable eighth-place in the 2022 playoff race during the Next Gen Era.
The evolving form of Legacy Motor Club, coupled with renewed intensity and strategic pit work, positions Jones to continue advancing through the standings if he can build on the lessons learned in Phoenix. Meanwhile, drivers like Jeremy Clements in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and John Hunter Nemechek for Legacy Motor Club will also be aiming to capitalize on their Phoenix experiences as NASCAR moves to fresh venues.
For Jones specifically, a top-10 finish at Phoenix not only changes the season’s narrative for himself and his team, but also demonstrates resilience and tactical tenacity—attributes that could prove decisive as the campaign unfolds and the field battles for every possible point.
walking into Phoenix to grab some points that belong to us pic.twitter.com/q8aw1QI5yq
— Erik Jones (@Erik_Jones) March 4, 2026
Caution out again on Lap 132. The 43 will get the lucky dog this time. Jones tells the team “fall off is bad, fires off fine.” Was faster overall on the last run. pic.twitter.com/sBU5PLubf1
— LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (@LEGACYMotorClub) March 8, 2026
Man we needed that. Still have places we need to improve but the whole 43 team battled for that top 10. #teamtoyota pic.twitter.com/7EuharACwn
— Erik Jones (@Erik_Jones) March 8, 2026
.@JClements51 straight up passing William Byron on speed for a spot in the top five on a one-mile track? 🤯 pic.twitter.com/9hfXrLEf9b
— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) March 8, 2026
Jeremy Clements brings it home in 11th but was not happy with Sammy Smith, saying he owes his one. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/no1MS5Ysdj
— Bryan Nolen (@TheBryanNolen) March 8, 2026
Caution out on lap 287. JHN is in P18 and tells the team he needs grip. Erik Jones, in P14, says he needs to be freed up. Both cars pit for 4 tires & fuel. pic.twitter.com/qTJcnkyy99
— LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (@LEGACYMotorClub) March 8, 2026
