#PoconoTriple Race #1: Brandon Jones holds off Sheldon Creed for first Truck Victory

LONG POND, PA –– The first leg of the Pocono Triple is in the books, and Brandon Jones is finally a winner in the NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series after an intense final battle with Sheldon Creed in the closing laps.

Jones led the field on the final restart, but Creed was able to take advantage with a lap-and-a-half to go after a quick three-wide battle entering the Tunnel Turn.

Creed led down the short chute, but Jones battled back in Turn 3, utilizing the ‘PJ1’ compound in the upper groove coming to the white flag.

The two stayed side-by-side for more than half of the final lap, but finally, Jones prevailed exiting Turn 2, and went on to find the finish line first to claim his first career Truck victory.

“First off, everyone that makes this possible for me to come and play in this Truck Series – when I first started racing in my life, I saw the 51 late model and said I wanted to race with Kyle Busch Motorsports one day and win races,” Jones said post-race.

“We finally did it. We’ve been close in the past. Menards was on our Tundra, Dupont and those guys do so much for us in our sport. That was a heck of a battle and I know it was fun to watch on TV. It was really fun for me there.”

Jones led 11 laps on the day, all coming in the final 12 laps in the 60 lap feature. Creed lead at the white flag, but Jones wouldn’t be denied.

Creed led the most laps on the day, more than half of the race with 31 laps, and also won both stages, but after yielding to Jones out of Turn 2, he fell to third behind Austin Hill in the final corner.

The Pocono Organics 150 was only 60 laps on Sunday morning, but took just over an hour-and-a-half to complete after the race was marred by nine caution periods, two resulting in red flag conditions.

After six races, Austin Hill extends his lead in the standings over Ben Rhodes to 51.

Christian Eckes was second entering the event, but wrecked from the lead late in the race.

Only Grant Enfinger is locked into the playoffs at this time with his two wins. The other four races have been won by drivers not competing for the Truck Series title (Kyle Busch twice, Chase Elliott once, and Jones today).

The next event on the calendar for the Trucks is at Kentucky Speedway on July 11th, The “Buckle Up In Your Truck 225.

CHECKERED FLAG: @BrandonJonesRac passes @sheldoncreed on the final lap to WIN at @PoconoRaceway! 🏁 pic.twitter.com/yB8AiRHOpc

— NASCAR Gander Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) June 28, 2020

 

SOURCES:
NASCAR Media
racing-reference.info
Toyota Racing