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]]> 1327619478 Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:11:18 -0700 http://blakejonesracing.com/news/rss.php?subaction=showfull&id=1327374743&archive= In the Pro Cup season finale last fall at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway, all 14-year-old Jones had to do was start the race to clinch rookie of the year title. Jones quickly wrapped the rookie award up and set his sights on winning the race.
Early on and during the middle stages of the event it looked like the talented teenager just might record his first Pro Cup victory, as he led many laps and ran solidly inside the top-five. Finding himself in a three-car battle up front for the lead, unfortunately Jones and Brad Rogers both got taken out of the race in a questionable move by fellow competitor Ryan Heavner.
Jones began the 2011 campaign chauffeuring cars from his family’s Teddy Jones Racing operation nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, but midway through the season he moved into the seat to drive for Athens, Ga.-based Kirk May Racing.
Even though Jones missed a mid-summer race last July at Shenandoah (Va.) Speedway, competing in 12 of the 13 series events and on the strength of four top-five and seven top-10 finishes during the season, he finished seventh in CARS Pro Cup points.

Jones recorded a personal best runner-up finish at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway, along with third-place runs at both Dillon (S.C.) Motor Speedway and Lonesome Pine Raceway in Coeburn, Va., plus a fourth-place effort at Ace Speedway located in Altamahaw, N.C.
“Overall I guess you could say we had a good season in 2011, because we led races and placed ourselves in contention to visit victory lane and just in general at each event we showed up at we ran well,” said Jones following the CARS Pro Cup banquet as he reflected on last season. “I’m a racer and each time I strap in the car I do so hoping to pull into victory lane following the conclusion of the event, and really what was disappointing last year is we could have won three or four races if things had just worked out better for us. You kind of hate thinking back and looking at how things could’ve turned out better, but I know for certain we (as a team) gave a couple of races away and then we got wrecked and knocked out of contention of winning a couple of more races.
“The CARS Pro Cup tour is tough, with several veteran drivers, and I guess what’s really gratifying for me is knowing that during my rookie season as we showed up at tracks for the first time I’d ever laid eyes on them, is just how well we ran. I have to give a lot of credit for us running so good to my crew chief Wade Day, because there’s no doubting that he believes in me as a race car driver and in turn that really gives me a boost of confidence. Wade and I really communicate well, I can tell him how the car’s driving and he knows what adjustments to make on the chassis. We’d have a good qualifying run and then back it up and have a strong run during the race. Hey, we didn’t get that elusive first win in 2011, but all the veteran series drivers grew to respect my abilities as a racer and they knew that I wasn’t just some kid out on the track riding around. I’ve won in every level of racing since I began in go-karts, then into Bandolero and Legends cars and then into asphalt Late Models. We didn’t get that Pro Cup win in 2011, but there’s always the upcoming racing season. Finishing seventh in CARS Pro Cup points and earning ‘Rookie of the Year’ honors meant a lot to me.”
Supporters for the Teddy Jones Racing CARS Pro Cup No. 80 Dodge Charger efforts during the 2011 racing season: Baker’s Wrecker Service, Breeden Paving, Chambers Market & Grill, Colonial Loan, NAPA Auto Parts of Sevierville, Sevierville Import & Truck Center, WD Performance, Fast Cash Pawn, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, eXlander Designs, with special thanks to W.C. and Tracy Mills of Old Town, Fla.
During the winter offseason Blake and family have been busy preparing a new business venture for the teenager to be hands-on in operating. To quench that “need for speed” be sure to stop by Blake Jones Racing Center - Indoor Go-Karts in Pigeon Forge and talk racing with Blake and his family.
The start to the 2012 racing season is quickly approaching. Tentative plans call for Blake to compete in selected NASCAR K&N Pro Series East events, along with CARS Pro Cup races and also competing in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series sanctioned Late Model Stock shows at Kingsport Speedway.
To learn more about Blake Jones, visit his Web site at http://www.BlakeJonesRacing.com and contact Teddy Jones Racing at (865) 388-2795.
You can follow Blake Jones on social media via Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/80BlakeJones and on Facebook at Blake Jones Racing.
]]> 1327374743 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:12:23 -0700 http://blakejonesracing.com/news/rss.php?subaction=showfull&id=1326930216&archive= 1326930216 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:43:36 -0700 http://blakejonesracing.com/news/rss.php?subaction=showfull&id=1320619962&archive=

Rockingham, NC

A double header Saturday for 14 year old Blake Jones nets him a top 5 finish and Rookie of the year honors two years running. The United Auto Racing Association (UARA-STARS) along with the Championship Auto Racing Series (CARS Pro Cup) made the journey to Rockingham Speedway this weekend. Jones qualified a 26.019 around the high bank tri-oval putting him 12th of the 18 cars taking time in the UARA event. Jones however started the race from the shotgun position due to changes made to the car post qualifying. By lap 25 of the event he was already charging to the front and up to 12th place in the field. A mandatory caution at lap 25 gave the crew time to adjust on the car more to his liking. Running the majority of the race in the 8th position, a caution on lap 73 gave Jones a chance to pick up a few spots on the restart of the 75 lap event. Executing the restart perfectly Jones picked up Three spots and a top Five finish claiming the Holley Biggest Performer of the race award.

A 30 minute break between races gave Jones little time to rest for the CARS Pro Cup American 200. Starting the race in the 7th position, Jones clinched the Rookie of the year title making him the youngest in series history to do so, other notables to win this title are names such as Jeff Agnew, Benny Gordon, and Brian Vickers. Driving the #14 Kirk May Racing entry gave Jones a chance to work with NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Cale Gale who fielded the #4 entry for Kirk May. By lap 40 a hard charging Jones made the pass to take over third place. A lap 69 debris caution gives the leaders a chance to pit for fuel (cannot pit for fuel and tires on same pit stop).The Kirk May Racing crew topped off the car, and picked up the two spots needed to get Jones out front for the restart. By lap 83 Jones was battling with series points leader Brad Rogers for third place a hard charging Ryan Heavner on new tires takes the trio three wide into turn one causing contact between Jones and points leader Rogers. Jones on the outside slammed into the outside wall ending his day finishing 16th.The knowledge learned this season running in the heavier cars and radial tires will help the 14 year old rookie next season. The two time rookie of the year plans to go for a three-peat next season in the NASCAR sanctioned K&N east series. If Jones captures the rookie title it will also make him the youngest to do so and put his name in the record books along with Joey Logano, Austin Dillon, Ryan Truex, and Darell Wallace Jr.

by Jeremy Hughes]]> 1320619962 Sun, 06 Nov 2011 15:52:42 -0700 http://blakejonesracing.com/news/rss.php?subaction=showfull&id=1319940621&archive= Heading into the season finale at Rockingham Speedway, rookie Blake Jones has a comfortable lead over his competition for the 2011 CARS Pro Cup Rookie of the Year title. It's not a given, Jones will still have to take the green flag to secure the trophy. The Sevierville, TN driver has a 95 point lead over Cale Conley. This should be enough to allow him to race for his first Pro Cup win rather than worry about where Conley is on the track.

Jones began the season driving the #80 car for his family team and moved into the #14 ride at Kirk May Motorsports for the final 5 Championship races. He has accumulated 4 top 5's in his 11 Pro Cup starts this season for an average finish of 7.82. His best finish of the year came at Hickory Motor Speedway where he finished in second place.

At the age of 14, Jones will likely be the youngest Rookie of the Year winner in Pro Cup history, an impressive feat considering the age and experience levels of most of the field of drivers he is racing against. If Jones comes away from Rockingham with enough points, he will join drivers such as Jeff Agnew, Brian Vickers, Benny Gordon, Matt Carter, Brandon Ward, and Drew Herring who have also won Pro Cup Rookie of the Year.

The final race in the CARS Pro Cup season will be held at Rockingham Speedway on the afternoon of Saturday, November 5th. Come out to watch the Pro Cup competitors duel down to the wire for the 2011 Championship and Rookie of the Year! Tickets are only $15.00 for the American 200.
]]> 1319940621 Sat, 29 Oct 2011 19:10:21 -0700 http://blakejonesracing.com/news/rss.php?subaction=showfull&id=1319758525&archive= I met one of those great guys --Mr Ned Jarrett. He is a Nascar Legend and a
Hall of Famer! It was so cool to hear his racing stories and listen to him tell what Nascar was then in comparison to what the sport has grown to today. As a driver, its always alot of fun to swap stories with other drivers but sharing race stories with Mr Jarrett was awesome! Certainly a day I will never forget. Special thanks to Mr John Eller and his son, Noah ,for creating this opportunity for me .
Thanks also to my mom and Kim Hancock for taking time out of their schedule to take the trip to North Carolina with me! Since I cannot drive on the highway legally for another year and two months I really needed a driver!!! ]]> 1319758525 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:35:25 -0700 http://blakejonesracing.com/news/rss.php?subaction=showfull&id=1318287259&archive=
HICKORY, N.C. — The Catawba County United Way 200 at Hickory Motor Speedway came down to two drivers battling for their first career win. In the end, the hungry veteran held off the charging rookie.

AJ Frank fended off Kirk May Racing’s Blake Jones to earn his first-career CARS Pro Cup series win in his 85th start. Jones followed him across the finish line, with Jeff Agnew, Caleb Holman and Cale Conley rounding out the top five.

Frank grabbed the lead from Holman with 15 laps to go and blocked Jones’ advances in the closing laps.

“It’s been a long time coming, no doubt about it,” Frank said in victory lane. “I feel like this should have happened a long time ago, but it’s so great to be here. I’m at a loss for words.”

Jones fought through several challenges to finish second. Using a different pit strategy than the rest of the leaders, the 14-year-old Tennessee native led 67 of the 200 laps. But Jones lost the lead and nearly his car on lap 135 when he tangled with Tyler Young in turn 1. Jones spun up the track but somehow kept his car off the wall.

With fresh tires, Jones restarted eighth, moved to seventh after a dust-up with Brad Rogers and then to fifth after missing the spinning cars of Agnew and JP Morgan.

Jones took the fourth position on lap 175, third on lap 178 and second with 12 laps to go. That’s as close as he would get to scoring Kirk May Racing’s first win.

“We had a really good race car — I think we may have had the best car here, but we ran out of time,” Jones said afterward. “It was crazy, coming back up.

“AJ had a great car, and we ran him down there. We just needed five more laps.”

Nevertheless, the second place finish is a best for both Jones and KMR. The team will be back in action with the CARS Pro Cup series in two weeks at Myrtle Beach Speedway.

“We were third the last time out and second here tonight,” Jones said. “We can’t wait to get to Myrtle Beach.”

October 9, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Leave A Comment »
]]> 1318287259 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:54:19 -0700 http://blakejonesracing.com/news/rss.php?subaction=showfull&id=1317866086&archive=
“We’d love to come out of Hickory with a win,” said Jones about Saturday’s 200-lap race. “I know our team is ready for it. Ideally, we need to keep the big picture in mind of where we are in the point standings. We want to improve where we’re sitting by the end of the season and top three finishes in these last few races should get us to where we want to be.”

Jones, who hails from Sevierville, Tennessee, has positioned himself into sixth in the overall point standings, just 25 points out of fifth place driver Tyler Young and 114 points out of leader Brad Rogers. The cushion between Jones and his nearest rookie rival is 93 points and with just three events to go in the season including the Hickory event on Saturday, Jones is looking to inch himself one step closer to that prestigious crown.

The Catawba County United Way 200 at the Hickory Motor Speedway is event 11 of 13 on the 2011 CARS Pro Cup Series schedule. Qualifying is slated for 5pm on October 8th with the green flag scheduled to drop at 7:15pm. For more information on the series, check out their website at www.carsprocup.com. Story Prepared by Tim’s Corner Motorsports
Tim Terry]]> 1317866086 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:54:46 -0700 http://blakejonesracing.com/news/rss.php?subaction=showfull&id=1317265161&archive= Jones coasted across the finish for a diappointing third place after leading from lap 13 to white flag .]]> 1317265161 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:59:21 -0700 http://blakejonesracing.com/news/rss.php?subaction=showfull&id=1317263362&archive=
COEBURN, Va. — Blake Jones knew he had a car that could win Sunday’s CARS Pro Cup Series Salute to America 200 at Lonesome Pine Raceway.

Jones showed speed throughout the 200-lap race and, after a mid-race pit miscue, rallied to finish third. The finish is Kirk May Racing’s best since the spring.

Afterward, the 14-year-old rookie said it was a rookie mistake that kept him from victory lane.

On lap 104, Jones pitted from the second position with the rest of the leaders. But as he came into his box, the car didn’t slow.

“When I came in, the brake pedal went to the floor and I couldn’t stop,” Jones said. “I hate that I did that to the team.”

Jones stopped on the next lap and restarted the race at the back of the pack. But it didn’t take the Tennessee native long to make up ground. He steadily passed several veterans of the series, including JP Morgan, AJ Frank and Jeff Agnew. By the time he reached the third position, he felt a tire starting to go down on the car.

Instead of pitting, Jones stayed on the track and held his position. At the end of the race, he had the fastest car on the race track.

“I moved around a little bit and found a little more speed,” Jones said. “I can’t thank Kirk and the team enough. It’s a great race car.”

Jones and Kirk May Racing hope to build some momentum on their strong run as the Pro Cup Series heads to Hickory Motor Speedway in early October.


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