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Furniture Row Racing hires Chris Gayle to be Erik Jones’ crew chief

NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 - Qualifying

DARLINGTON, SC - SEPTEMBER 05: Kyle Busch, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, right, talks with crew chief Chris Gayle on the grid prior to qualifying for the NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway on September 5, 2015 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images)

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Furniture Row Racing announced Thursday morning that Chris Gayle will be Erik Jones’ crew chief next season in the Sprint Cup Series.

Jones, who will be a Cup rookie, will be a teammate to Martin Truex Jr. next season. Jones will drive the No. 77 Toyota.

Gayle has 17 career Xfinity victories as a crew chief. Nine of those wins have come this season at Joe Gibbs Racing - seven with Kyle Busch, one with Denny Hamlin and one with Sam Hornish Jr.
“We are thrilled to have Chris join our team and work with Erik (Jones) next season,” said Joe Garone, Furniture Row Racing team president, in a statement. “His crew chief record in the Xfinity Series has been impressive, but more importantly his record proves that he knows what it takes to win a race. It’s a great fit with Chris coming from Joe Gibbs Racing with whom we have a technical alliance. This hire has all the makings of a seamless transition for Chris since he has already worked with Erik and has a thorough understanding of the Toyota affiliation.”

Said Gayle, 40, in a statement: “I watched Furniture Row Racing from afar and have been impressed with the success they have had with Martin in the No. 78 Toyota. This is a great opportunity to join a first-class team led by owner Barney Visser, who is deeply committed to provide the necessary resources to be successful in the Cup series. I also want to help Furniture Row Racing grow an already strong relationship with Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing. I look forward to moving to Denver -- it’s an awesome city. My wife Brandi says she is more about mountains than beaches.”

Gayle and his family will move there after the season.

Regarding working with Jones in NASCAR’s top-tier division, Gayle said: “I have had the opportunity to work with Erik in the Xfinity Series and there is no doubt in my mind that he has an incredible future in the Cup Series. His talent and maturity are beyond his years and there’s not a better young driver to work with as I begin a new chapter in my career.”

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