BYRON, MI (January 23, 2012) – It's only been a few weeks since his last race, but 2011 Florida Governor's Cup 200 winner Erik Jones is ready to get back to the track. While announcements of ARCA events have been the headlines for the 15-year-old Michigan native this off-season, Jones will look to start his Super Late Model schedule in 2012 with a strong run in the signature season kick-off event, SpeedFest, at Watermelon Capitol Speedway (GA) January 28th and 29th.

"We have a lot of momentum from the 2011 season," said Jones. "It shouldn't be too hard to carry that over into the new year. When you have a great season like 2011 you just can't wait to get back on the track, the off season seems like it lasts forever."

Jones was the 2011 Governor's Cup 200 winner at New Smyrna Speedway (FL) after locking up the JEGS All Stars Tour title a few weeks prior to that. He also had a solid performance going in the Allen Turner Snowflake 100 at Five Flags Speedway (FL) in December before being swept up in a wreck.

2012 will kick off at a new track, as Jones will set his eyes on the 3/8-mile Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, Georgia for the first time at SpeedFest.

"It looks like a fun track from the pictures and should put on a good show for the fans with our Paragon Corvette Reproductions Chevy," said Jones. "I am really excited to go there. I always like to go to a new racetrack and hopefully race with some new people."

Those new people will include drivers like NASCAR stars Kyle Busch, Johnny Sauter, Erik Darnell and David Ragan, as well as short track standouts such as Chase Elliott, Bubba Pollard and several other big Super Late Model names.

Three-time CRA Super Series Champion Scott Hantz has stepped in to be the head wrench and driver coach for the young driver.

Jones will be focusing his efforts on the ARCA/CRA Super Series Super Late Model 200-lap portion of SpeedFest weekend and will not be competing in the JEGS Tour event.

"It is different not being able to hop into the (JEGS Tour) Pro Late Model at SpeedFest. It bums me out a little bit as I really enjoy running the Pro class. We have had great success with the Super Late Model though and I really enjoyed the faster pace of racing that I got to experience twice last year.

Jones and his Paragon Corvette Reproductions #4 team will start the action on Friday January 27th with practice. Qualifying will take place on Saturday, January 28th with the feature event being on Sunday, January 29th.