DAYTONA WINNER JONES COULD BE YOUTHFUL SIGN

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. — Erik Jones created so much smoke during his burnout that he had trouble breathing afterward.

His first career Cup victory Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway was a needed breath of fresh air in a sport that has failed to see a supposed bumper crop of young talent emerge as bona fide stars.

The 22-year-old Jones had his motorcoach wrapped in toilet paper as a prank and awoke to a steady string of congratulatory tweets. The feel-good, first-time win gave the sport a vital bump as it capped the official first half of the season.

The question lingers: Is this a sign that perhaps the so-called “Young Guns” are poised to break through over the final 18 races, or was this just an aberration?

When the smoke finally cleared around Jones’ No. 20 Toyota, this much was still clear — Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. remained the only three drivers in the rarefied air of legitimate championship contenders.

Led by five wins each from Busch and Harvick, the trio have combined for 13 wins over the first 18 points races. All three have been the class of the field. All three are former Cup champions.

Asked if Jones’ victory was a momentum-builder for the next generation, third-place finisher AJ Allmendinger cracked, “One of those three are going to win next week, so I don’t know.”

Jones, who joined Daytona 500 champion Austin Dillon as winners at the track this season who only led the final lap, has the talent and team to become a consistent winner. Joe Gibbs Racing thought so highly of his talent that it gave 2004 Cup champ Matt Kenseth the boot to make room for Jones.

“Regardless of who I’m replacing or where I’m driving, you want to win races,” Jones said. “You don’t want to be riding around.”

It only seems like 35 other drivers have been riding around all season trying to play catch-up to Busch, Harvick and Truex. But the first step toward a title is making the playoffs. With eight races left before the field is set, only eight drivers have clinched the automatic playoff spot earned with a win.

Here’s what to watch for in the year’s second half:

The Big 4? Should Busch, Harvick and Truex advance to the championship finale at Homestead — and it’s no lock all three qualify — who would join them as the fourth driver to race for the title?

Clint Bowyer has two wins to enjoy a career rebirth at Stewart-Haas Racing. SHR has dominated this season with Harvick, Bowyer and Kurt Busch regular contenders and Aric Almirola, in his first season as Danica Patrick’s replacement, has proved it was the driver and not the car that was the weak link in the top team in NASCAR. Joey Logano (one win) and Denny Hamlin (winless) have come oh-so-close before to winning the title, and a Chase Elliott championship would link today’s fans with the old-school loyalists who loved his dad, “Awesome” Bill Elliott.

Hendrick slump: Chevy’s woes are intricately connected to the winless season at Hendrick Motorsports.

Elliott, Alex Bowman and rookie William Byron are all not only winless this season — they’re 0 for their careers. Not even Jimmie Johnson, the seven-time NASCAR champion, has steadied the ship. He’s stuck in the longest losing streak of his career (39 races) and has just two topfives this season.