Sunoco Rookie - Wookiee? - Of The Year Round Up: Three Currently In Chase Contention

From Jayski.

Erik Jones currently leads the Rookie of the Year
standings in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.

With nine races in the books, Erik Jones is still the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings leader, followed by Brandon Jones (-26), Brennan Poole (-31), Ryan Preece (-60), Garrett Smithley (-70), Ray Black Jr. (-72), BJ McLeod (-74) and Cody Ware (-109). Of the seven-driver 2016 Sunoco Rookie class, three are currently eligible for the NASCAR XFINITY Chase - Erik Jones (1 win - Bristol), Brandon Jones (sixth in championship points) and Brennan Poole (eighth in championship points).

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Erik Jones is currently seventh in the NASCAR XFINITY Series standings - 10 points behind Richard Childress Racing’s Brandon Jones. In nine starts this season, Erik Jones has landed one pole, one win (Bristol), five top fives and an average finish of 12.4. Jones currently has clinched a spot in the Chase with his win provided he stays in the top 30 in points.

Erik Jones made his series track debut at Dover last season where he started sixth and finished ninth.

“Last year, I had a great Toyota Camry, gained a lot of track time and led laps,” Jones said. “I just made a late-race mistake that cost us a chance at the win. We’ve had fast Toyotas all season and if we can minimize mistakes, I know we will be there at the end with a shot at the Monster Mile.”

Richard Childress Racing’s Brandon Jones sits sixth in the standings, five points behind fifth-place Brendan Gaughan. Brandon Jones has posted four top 10s with an average finish of 10.8. Jones’ path to the Chase is built on points at this moment. His sixth-place spot in the standings is good enough to grant him passage if he can stay inside the top 12.

Last but not least, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Brennan Poole is currently eighth in the series points, 13 back from seventh-place Erik Jones. Poole is coming off his career-best series finish at Talladega (third). In nine starts, Poole has registered one top five, three top 10s and an average finish of 13.3.

Poole has made one start at Dover, logging a 12th-place finish.