PERSONAL PROFILE
	Spouse: Jina Hometown: Tucker, GA Birthdate: July 23, 1970 Personal Vehicle: Pontiac Grand Prix Hobbies: Hunting, Fishing, Skiing

Buckshot Jones will return to the Winston Cup Series in 2001 for his second shot at achieving a childhood dream. While Jones' momentum seems less equipped to handle the transition from the Busch Series than he was in 1999, the last time he attempted NASCAR's highest level, he at least has a powerful home state company behind him.

Jones will drive No. 44 Georgia-Pacific Dodges for Petty Enterprises, which struggled in 2000 while it balanced tumultuous personal events while also fielding teams in all three NASCAR national series and engineering a Winston Cup switch from Pontiac to Dodge.

The West Palm Beach, Fla., native's career has faltered since he made an abortive run at Winston Cup Rookie of the Year in 1999. Jones had won two races in the Busch Series prior to that and sampled Winston Cup with five starts in 1998, while also running the full Busch Series schedule to a ninth place finish in points. His highlight that year was an eighth place finish at Dover for Stavola Brothers Racing, in only his second career Winston Cup start.

However, Jones' family team's plan for 1999 did not come to fruition due mainly to sponsorship woes. After 10 starts he was forced to return to the Busch Series, where he finished a dismal 28th in the standings. In 2000, Jones struggled to return to the level his career had previously attained. He made 32 Busch Series starts and finished 21st in points, with one top-5 and three top-10 finishes.

After competing in a race car for only the sixth time in his life, Jones' father Billy Jones, who has ardently supported his son throughout his racing career, sat him down in a restaurant and asked him what he wanted to accomplish in the sport. Jones simply replied that he wanted to be a Winston Cup Series champion. That night, father and son came up with a five-year plan on the back of a place mat that was designed to take a college hobby to the sport's highest level.

Jones had raced Late Model Stock Cars and moved to the Slim Jim All Pro Series while he achieved his business management degree from the University of Georgia. He moved to the Busch Series in 1995 and had a tough time until his father hired former championship crew chief Ricky Pearson to guide his son's fortunes.

Jones won Busch Races at The Milwaukee Mile in 1996 and New Hampshire International Speedway in 1998, the same year he was voted "NASCAR Winston Cup Scene's" Most Popular Driver in the Busch Series.

Jones grew up in Tucker, Ga., and did not start racing until 1991. He twice has competed in the final Winston Cup race of the year at his home track, Atlanta Motor Speedway, in 1997 and 2000, but he has not fared well there. He was involved in an accident in the 1997 event and finished 37th last season.