ShowsErik Jones, NASCAR
Carol Jones, Eric's Mom Brent Nickola, Erik Jones Foundation Board Member May 18, 2022
BUT…there are only a mere 40 drivers in NASCAR on race day. That’s mighty rarefied air for professional sports. And that’s where Erik Jones resides. And that same NASCAR star and Flintstone, Erik Jones is back in the Aquarium for another swim! Jones is part of a terrific program to promote the new Birch Run racing emporium, the racing sport, and his foundation. Best of all, he is coming home to Michigan where he cut his teeth racing, moving up the ladder so quickly it earned him Rookie of The Year in three consecutive years in all three of NASCAR’s top racing series. An incredible run. Born in Flint’s Hurley Hospital he grew up spending a lot of time in and around Flint, and lived and attended school in Byron, graduating from Swartz Creek High School. Along the way he attended local car shows and events like Back To The Bricks, where he was not only a visitor, but also a vendor working for his family’s business. Jones’ first NASCAR Cup Series victory occurred at Darlington in 2018, at a track called “Too Tough To Tame”. To follow that up he won the 2020 NASCAR Busch Clash, an annual invite-only race at Daytona International Speedway. Then, in 2021, he was invited by the living racing legend Richard “The King” Petty to partner with him in a quest to bring the famous #43 Petty Chevrolet back to victory lane with Jones behind the wheel. There is no one better to tell the REAL story than someones mom. And for this task we are joined by Erik’s mom, Carol. Talk about getting the straight story! Carol is a terrific story teller and the ultimate reason Erik Jones wound up as a NASCAR racer. Looking for something the family could enjoy together she found Midget Racing, and when Erik’s dad got involved it was all she wrote for the family’s racing destiny. When Erik lost his dad to cancer he knew he wanted to do something to help others deal with the reality of the disease, and better yet-beat it. To that end he started the Erik Jones Foundation to beat cancer, support animals and animal care and rescue, and promote literacy and reading. He broke the news of this start up in Flint last year, right here on Fish and The Flint Chronicles last August, and it’s going strong. Joining Erik and his mom, Carol, in the Aquarium for this episode is Brent Nickola, a member of the Jones Foundation Board, and a key factor in creating the focus and drive for the organization. We are only too happy to host the trio on another big episode of “Fish and The Flint Chronicles!” 
Eric and Fish talking about Eric's foundation at an event at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center
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Carol, Fish, and Brent in the Aquarium
Fish talkin' smack with Erik on the Bricks at last year's B2B festival
Carol, Fish, and Brent
The famous #43 car
Fish and Eric
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