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| Features |
| EKN One-on-One: Eric Jones - KartSport North America |
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 | Eric Jones
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Officially launched in August 2010, KartSport North America is a new karting venture located in Mooresville, North Carolina and is the exclusive importer for the Arrow Racing Karts for the United States and Mexico. The new operation is a joint venture between Justin Marks and Eric Jones. Marks is a racer of all traits, competing in the NASCAR Nationwide and ARCA RE/MAX Series ranks during the 2010 season. Jones is a life-long karter with a stacked resume that includes open wheel formula car racing and impressive NASCAR experience, and much to the benefit of our sport, he has returned to his roots as a major catalyst in the recent success of the Arrow brand in America.
Jones - an Iowa-native - has been around karting and motorsports his entire 33-year life. The second generation driver was a karting standout in the 1990s before getting an opportunity to progress into Skip Barber and then onto NASCAR. Now in a leading role of the new KartSport Team Arrow Racing outfit, Jones will look to continue Arrow’s reign as one of the top chassis in North America.
Prior to traveling down to Daytona Beach for the opening round of the WKA Manufacturer’s Cup Series, Jones was able to answer a few questions regarding his climb through and his future plans in the sport.
eKartingNews.com: First off, congratulations on your Masters title at the 2010 US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals. I’m sure that will be a week to remember?
Eric Jones: Yes, that was a great week. We made a last minute decision to race but things worked out. That decision was based on the need for some evaluation of our X1 CIK kart in the heavier Masters class. My mechanic Benny was a great part of the victory as he handled all of the mechanic work on my kart all week. That allowed me to put all of my focus on the guys in our Arrow tent and without him, I wouldn’t have raced. We actually blew up our primary Rotax engine on the second lap of qualifying and had to use our back-up engine straight off, so we were very fortunate to sweep the week’s events. Even more memorable for me was Sam Beasley’s amazing drive for us in the Senior final coming from 33rd to 2nd and nearly winning the race.
EKN: That was certainly a drive of a lifetime for Beasley and a great week for the Arrow clan. A familiar question to start out the interview, how did you get started in karting?
EJ: My father Ron raced karts, starting in the 70’s, so I was born into the sport. He ran the major street and dirt races throughout the country until about 1990. I had my first race at the age of eight in 1985 on a dirt oval in Newton, Iowa and have been involved in karting ever since.
 | Jones earned the 2010 US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals title in the Masters division
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
EKN: Certainly you have great memories from your early karting years. One place you did very well was the Rock Island Grand Prix (http://www.ekartingnews.com/news_info.php?n=13155). Looking back, what has been your biggest karting victory thus far?
EJ: Rock Island was definitely good to me in the few short years that I raced there. It’s a great event that I hope can return to its prime in the coming years. It’s hard to single out one karting victory, so I would have to say that a long string of victories in the mid-90’s that led to my invitation and eventual victory in the inaugural Skip Barber Karting Shootout were the most significant.
EKN: Now I may be wrong but your one of very few in the karting biz to have your own Wikipedia page. This is in credit to your career in the NASCAR Nationwide and Truck Series. You made your NASCAR debut in 1998. What led you to the path of NASCAR?
EJ: I was offered a Nationwide Series test after winning the inaugural Champ Car/Skip Barber Karting Shootout in 1997. The test went well so I got a ride for few races. I mostly ran for underfunded teams that were trying to make races, but managed to get in decent equipment in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for a few races which helped me qualify and finish inside the top ten.
EKN: When not trying to build your career behind the wheel in NASCAR, you worked for a number of teams in the sports, correct? What types of duties did you hold?
EJ: Yes. I had several jobs including business manager, driving coach, spotter, crew chief, and fabrication shop manager. I also got involved in the marketing side of the sport and helped to put several sponsorship deals together for the driver that I managed.
EKN: At the end of 2008, you signed on as the General Manager of BTK Motorsports. What was the main reason for leaving NASCAR to come back to karting?
EJ: My wife Erica and I our had our first child, Hannah Marie, just over two years ago. I enjoyed my time in NASCAR, which spanned for ten years, but I wanted my daughter to grow up the same way that I did. I don’t really want her to be a racer, but I do want her to grow up around it. I was fortunate to be around so many great people during my childhood and career in karting, and hope that Hannah can do the same. An opportunity presented itself with Arrow karts and BTK Motorsports, both of which I had a previous relationship, so we decided to go for it.
 | Eric was a factory Emmick (American-made) driver in the 90s
(Photo: E. Jones) |
EKN: When we spoke with Terrence McCall of BTK Motorsports, he had nothing but high praises for you. What was it like working with the company for the past two years?
EJ: It was great working with Terrence and Melinda. They were great to my family and I, and I appreciate them giving me the opportunity to work with them. Together, we certainly raised the awareness of the Arrow brand.
EKN: Your reign under the BTK Motorsports banner help the Arrow brand earn the 2010 EKN Constructors’ Championship. What were some of the keys to a successful 2010 season for the Australian-manufactured brand?
EJ: The Arrow drivers helped capture the Constructors’ Championship on the strength of our WKA and Rotax programs. The Arrow chassis line is designed around these programs. Also, our direct relationship and input with the Arrow factory enables us to work closely within a tight knit network to react quickly to any changes needed within our market. We feel that this relationship is something that our competitors may not have.
Justin and I just returned from a week in Australia to further solidify our alliance and to work on areas that need improvement in 2011. We actually stretched our Constructors’ lead under the KartSport North America banner and rest assured that we will work even harder to keep up the good results heading into this next season.
EKN: How did you and your KartSport North America counterpart Justin Marks meet?
EJ: Justin and I met while working in the ARCA and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Justin was driving and I was managing a driver that he competed against. We have a mutual friend, Michael McDowell, who introduced us during that time. Justin and Michael are building the new Mooresville karting complex together.
 | Eric's brother, Brandon (r), and the rest of the Jones family are in full support of KartSport North America
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
EKN: Getting the new operation going from its new home in Mooresville, North Carolina, what are going to be your short-term goals for KartSport North America?
EJ: Our main goal is to try and carry on the momentum that we have right now. Arrow was the top performing brand in the USA in 2010, and that will be tough to back up for certain. Our new Junior program, which is focusing on the younger drivers, is already getting results and we are looking to further improve that program this season.
EKN: Looking into the future, what are some of the operation’s long term goals with the Arrow brand and other possible ventures?
EJ: The importing and distribution of Arrow karts and Kartech parts are the main focus of our business and we hope to make Arrow the most popular kart in America. KartSport is also adding many products to our distribution business to further support our dealer network, including SKF Bearings. We have recently been approached by several other major vendors to distribute their products and hope to make some announcements soon. KartSport will be open for retail business in January for our local customers and we will be opening our online store as well.
EKN: Eric, thank you for your time and I wish you and the entire KartSport North America group a prosperous 2011 season.
EJ: Thank you very much. |
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