Erik Jones 'Blindsided' by Joe Gibbs Racing Decision to Part Ways

埃里克·琼斯被乔·吉布斯赛车决定分道扬镳

Erik Jones was caught by surprise on Thursday morning when he was informed that Joe Gibbs Racing would not retain his services for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.

周四早上，当埃里克·琼斯(Erik Jones)被告知乔·吉布斯车队(Joe Gibbs Racing)将不会在2021年纳斯卡杯系列赛赛季保留他的服务时，他大吃一惊。

In fact, Jones said he was "blindsided" by the decision on Sunday during the pre-race show for Sunday’s race at Michigan International Speedway, believing the two sides were moving closer towards a contract extension.

事实上，琼斯说，周日在密歇根国际赛道(Michigan International Speedway)举行的比赛前表演中，他对这一决定感到“措手不及”，认为双方正在朝着续约的方向更近一步。

"I didn’t really expect it coming from our talks," Jones said. "I thought we were moving in a good direction," At the end of the day, I’ve had a great, really, eight years almost with Joe Gibbs Racing between Xfinity and Cup, and I’m thankful for that time. It’s good to see the support that’s been out there the last few days on social media and everybody that’s coming out in support; it’s been awesome.

琼斯说：“我真的没想到它会来自我们的会谈。”“我认为我们正朝着一个好的方向前进，”归根结底，我和乔·吉布斯车队在Xfinity和Cup之间度过了很棒的，真的，几乎八年，我对这段时间表示感谢。很高兴看到过去几天在社交媒体上得到的支持，以及每个站出来支持的人；这真是太棒了。

"We’ve got a great few opportunities out there, which has been good to see. Over the next few weeks, hopefully, we can have some good talks, so excited about that. Excited about the next 15 races, too."

“我们有很多机会，很高兴看到这一点。在接下来的几周里，希望我们能有一些很好的谈话，对此感到非常兴奋。对接下来的15场比赛也很兴奋。”

The 24-year-old has driven for Gibbs and Toyota Racing Development since 2013, when he was a teenaged pavement short track prodigy, who famously outdueled Kyle Busch to win the 2012 Snowball Derby Super Late Model race.

这位24岁的年轻人自2013年以来一直为吉布斯和丰田赛车开发公司开车，当时他是一名十几岁的人行道短道神童，著名的是击败凯尔·布希赢得了2012年雪球德比超晚期模特比赛的冠军。

Since then, Gibbs and TRD shepherded his development through the ladder system into a full-time Cup Series driver -- spending one year at Furniture Row Racing and the past three seasons in the JGR No. 20.

从那时起，Gibbs和TRD带领他通过阶梯系统发展成为一名全职杯系列赛车手-在家具排赛车工作了一年，过去三个赛季在JGR No.20。

"It’s a lot different spot," Jones said. "After we won that first truck race in Phoenix (in 2013), I was kind of on a plan, and it really worked out really well all the way up to the No. 20 car. It’s a lot different situation. I’ve got great people behind me working with me.

“这是一个非常不同的地方，”琼斯说。“在我们赢得了凤凰城的第一场卡车比赛(2013年)后，我就有了一个计划，一直到20号车，结果都非常好。情况有很大不同。我身后有很棒的人和我一起工作。”“我们赢了(2013年)凤凰城的第一场卡车比赛，我有一个计划，一路走到20号车。情况大不相同。”

"It’s been a hectic few days in trying to start working on things for next year, but it’s also an opportunity to take a foundation that we built the last few years and start to build from that. It’s unfortunate in one way, but it’s exciting in another too."

“这是忙碌的几天，试图开始为明年做事情，但这也是一个机会，可以利用我们过去几年建立的基础，并在此基础上开始建设。这在某种程度上是不幸的，但在另一方面也是令人兴奋的。”

Jones has two wins at the highest level of the discipline -- the 2018 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona and 2019 Southern 500 at Darlington.

琼斯在该项目的最高水平上获得了两场胜利-2018年在代托纳举行的可口可乐零400大赛和2019年南方500大赛在达灵顿举行的比赛。

Christopher Bell is expected to replace Jones in the No. 20, a byproduct of the recently announced sale of Leavine Family Racing. Toyota and Gibbs currently have Bell under a contract that must ensure him a ride in the Cup Series next year or he would be free to join another organization.

克里斯托弗·贝尔预计将取代琼斯的第20名，这是最近宣布出售利文家庭赛车的副产品。丰田和吉布斯目前与贝尔签订了一份合同，必须确保他明年参加杯赛系列赛，否则他将自由加入另一个组织。

Jones was signed to a one year extension last season once Gibbs was able to loan Bell to LFR.

琼斯上赛季在吉布斯能够将贝尔租借到LFR后签下了一年的续约合同。

Without another major satellite team within the Toyota Racing Development system, Gibbs was forced to choose Bell over Jones. That decision is expected to be made official in the coming weeks.

由于丰田赛车开发系统中没有另一个主要的卫星团队，吉布斯被迫选择了贝尔而不是琼斯。这一决定预计将在未来几周内正式公布。

Meanwhile, Jones is working towards a playoff run, but is one spot and 26 points behind William Byron for the provisional cutoff with four races remaining in the regular season.

与此同时，琼斯正在努力进入季后赛，但在常规赛还剩四场比赛的情况下，暂时落后威廉·拜伦一位26分。