Erik Jones senses a breakthrough for Legacy Motor Club

It is not often you hear a driver sound this genuinely optimistic, but Erik Jones is convinced that Legacy Motor Club has turned a corner. The 30-year-old is heading into his home race in Michigan with a real sense of purpose, buoyed by a stretch of four improved finishes in his last five outings.

Jones isn't looking at the raw points totals, which he admits look similar to last year. Instead, he is looking at the actual performance of the machine. The No. 43 Toyota has shown a new level of consistency over the last month, despite some frustrating execution errors and strategic oddities that hampered his stage points in Nashville.

He knows the team still has small details to iron out, but for Jones, that is actually a positive sign. There is clear value in knowing the speed is there while recognizing there is still room to grow. Having finished 11th or better in three of his last four Michigan starts, he feels they are ready to turn that momentum into a trophy this Sunday.