A dismal qualifying effort plagued NASCAR driver Erik Jones’ Snowball Derby weekend. Jones was one of three Cup Series regulars, along with Kyle Busch and Noah Gragson, who failed to make the top 30 on Saturday evening. As a result, all three of them were forced to enter the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), fighting for the final four spots in a 46-car field.Wheeling the No. 4 Simpson Racing Toyota, Jones tried everything he could, but the rain-shortened LCQ ultimately got the best of him. He ended up 41st overall, just one spot short of making Sunday’s starting lineup. With that, Jones’ bid to bring home his third Tom Dawson trophy ended. Jones conveyed his feelings through a heartfelt note, which he shared on X, formerly known as Twitter. He wrote,“Really disappointed we won't be in the main #SnowballDerby show later today. Went out to qualify right after the caution and the track just was not there for the speed we had. Tried to dig out of it in the LCQ but ran out of laps with the shortened race. Hate it for the guys who came out to help this week.”“Thank you to @WoofGangBakery, @SimpsonRacing @ErikJonesFdn, E14 Cattle, Coopersville Fleet Repair, and SouthPoint Risk for the support this entire week,” he continued. “Hope we get another chance to come back and fight for a Tom Dawson Trophy.”Thirteen years ago, in the 2012 Snowball Derby, a then-16-year-old Erik Jones held off two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch to become the second 16-year-old winner of the coveted event. He won it again the following year. In all, the Michigan-native owns six Snowball Derby starts.Erik Jones to return to Cup Series competition with Legacy Motor Club in 2026Erik Jones and Legacy Motor Club have agreed to a multi-year contract extension, which will keep the driver in his No. 43 LEGACY M.C. Toyota Camry XSE in 2026 and beyond. The 28-year-old is currently in his eighth full season in the NASCAR Cup Series.Throughout his tenure in the Cup Series, Jones captured three wins, 37 top fives, and 89 top-10 finishes. He happens to be the first NASCAR driver to win three back-to-back “Rookie of the Year” honors in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2015, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2016, and the Cup Series in 2017.“I’m looking forward to what we can build at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB,” Erik Jones said of his upcoming season. “I’ve been with the No. 43 car for a handful of years and feel like I’m coming into some of the best years of my career. I am hoping to grow alongside LEGACY M.C. in the seasons to come.”Next up for Jones is the Cook Out Clash at the iconic Bowman Gray Stadium. Scheduled for February 1, 2026, the 200-lap event will be televised on FOX Sports starting at 8 pm ET, with live radio updates on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.