Brandon Jones (racing driver)
A consistent NASCAR contender who turned a family legacy in auto parts into a successful career on the track.
Born 1997 (age 29)·American racing driver·Birthday: February 18·Generation Z
Biography
Brandon Jones grew up immersed in racing, the son of the CEO of Rheem Manufacturing and with a grandfather who founded a major auto parts distributor. He didn't just inherit a business interest; he forged his own path behind the wheel, climbing the ladder from late models to NASCAR's national series. Driving for the powerhouse Joe Gibbs Racing team in the Xfinity Series, Jones developed a reputation as a solid, smart competitor, particularly adept on superspeedways. His career is marked by steady progress and opportunistic victories, often capitalizing on chaotic finishes to take the checkered flag. More than just a driver, he represents a modern model in NASCAR, blending competitive drive with a sharp understanding of the sponsorship and business mechanics essential to the sport.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Brandon was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brandon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Brandon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Has multiple NASCAR Xfinity Series race wins, including victories at prestigious tracks like Daytona International Speedway and Kansas Speedway.
- Competed full-time for top-tier team Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for several seasons.
- Finished a career-high 5th in the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship standings in 2022.
- Won the 2019 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship, a key developmental series.
Did You Know?
His grandfather, J.R. Jones, founded the auto parts company JEGS, a major sponsor throughout Brandon's racing career.
He made his NASCAR national series debut in the Truck Series at the age of 16, driving for his family-owned team.
He is an avid outdoorsman and frequently shares hunting and fishing content on his social media.
He drove the No. 19 Toyota Tundra for part of the 2023 Craftsman Truck Series season, winning at Bristol Motor Speedway.
“You have to be smart and take care of your equipment to finish.”
