The final lap at Martinsville Speedway in 2022 remains etched in NASCAR Xfinity Series lore. With a Championship 4 berth on the line, Brandon Jones was moments away from victory when teammate Ty Gibbs, grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs, delivered a controversial bump-and-run that sent Jones spinning.

The incident cost Jones not just the race but a shot at the championship. Gibbs who had already secured his playoff position—faced immediate backlash for the aggressive move against his teammate. Nearly three years later, as Jones prepares for his return to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2025, he’s breaking his silence on that contentious chapter.

That Martinsville clash preceded Jones’ departure from JGR to JR Motorsports, a move that would see his career trajectory take an unexpected turn. What once seemed like a team-jumping incident that would permanently sever ties has instead evolved into a story of professional reconciliation and personal growth.

“I’ve learned to forgive and forget, and we’re going to go on with our ways,” Jones recently told NASCAR.com, addressing his current relationship with Ty Gibbs. The statement marks a significant shift from the tension that followed their infamous on-track collision. Rather than harboring resentment, Jones has taken a mature approach that acknowledges both the incident and Gibbs’ abilities. “Ty is a really good racer. To just say he did me dirty, I’m never going to talk to him — there’s a lot to learn from Ty on road racing and certain things. I want to keep that relationship as best as I can.”

The forgiveness comes after Jones experienced firsthand how greener pastures don’t always yield the expected results. After leaving JGR, his two-year stint at JR Motorsports proved challenging, failing to deliver a single win across 2023-2024. The statistics tell a stark story: just four top-fives and 18 top-tens at JRM compared to his final JGR season where he amassed six top-fives and 19 top-tens. Jones finished 14th in the championship standings both years at JRM, missing the playoffs entirely after being a consistent championship contender at Gibbs.

Jones’ experience reflects a pattern seen with other drivers who’ve navigated team changes and reconciliations. “I think I lost sight of what was really important, and that’s you just need wins, and that’s what progresses you to the next step,” Jones admitted, highlighting a crucial lesson learned during his time away from JGR. This realization ultimately led him to return to the Toyota team where he found Victory Lane five times between 2019-2022.

The reunion with JGR for 2025 comes with clear goals. Jones’ third-place finish at Phoenix Raceway last weekend—where he was in the photo finish frame with Aric Almirola and Alex Bowman—suggests that he’s started to script his comeback story. Currently sitting 20th in points after jumping nine positions following Phoenix, Jones has set a simple objective: compete for wins consistently.

NASCAR drivers who excelled after jumping ships

Brandon Jones’ return to Joe Gibbs Racing follows a storied NASCAR tradition where fractured relationships often mend, creating even stronger partnerships. This pattern of reconciliation has produced some of the sport’s most successful comebacks and championship runs.

The controversial decision for Dale Earnhardt Jr. to leave DEI, his father’s team, for Hendrick Motorsports rejuvenated his racing career by producing 9 victories and 108 top-ten finishes. Kyle Busch successfully transformed from a Hendrick Motorsports prospect into a winning champion at JGR by accumulating 56 Cup Series victories and winning two championships. Numerous statistics demonstrate what most NASCAR people already recognize: finding the proper match might need a different path.

The performance statistics of Jones mirror victories where JGR generated 5 wins over 2019-2022 but JRM has given him 0 wins and 4 top-fives between 2023-2024. The move signifies NASCAR’s singular ambience because competitors can provide technical guidance despite past racing incidents between them.

The reunion between Jones and crew manager Sam McAulay who provided Sheldon Creed with the most top-ten finishes throughout 2023 shows promise in winning a championship. Previous driver success at a specific team often leads to faster returns to Victory Lane after their return according to historical evidence. Jones declares his #20 team members are “the next bunch being developed to transition to the Cup Series” which ensures both driver and team obtain superior results than expected after their Martinsville dispute.