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Ben Kennedy (NASCAR)

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Ben Kennedy
Kennedy at Road America in 2017
Born (1991-12-26) December 26, 1991 (age 32)
Daytona Beach, Florida
Awards2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
17 races run over 2 years
2017 position23rd
Best finish23rd (2017)
First race2016 American Ethanol E15 250 (Iowa)
Last race2017 Ford EcoBoost 300 (Homestead)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 3 0
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
72 races run over 4 years
2016 position7th
Best finish7th (2016)
First race2013 UNOH 200 (Bristol)
Last race2016 Ford EcoBoost 200 (Homestead)
First win2016 UNOH 200 (Bristol)
Wins Top tens Poles
1 24 1
Statistics current as of November 18, 2017.

Ben Kennedy (born December 26, 1991) is an American former professional stock car racing driver and team owner. He currently serves as NASCAR's Vice President of Racing Development.

Racing career

Kennedy's 2013 K&N East car

Kennedy began his racing career on the short tracks of central Florida, winning championships in Super Late Models at Orlando Speedworld, and in Pro Truck racing at Orlando Speedworld and New Smyrna Speedway.[1] He made his touring series debut in the K&N Pro Series East in 2010, and began racing the series full-time in 2011.[1]

In 2012, in addition to running the full K&N Pro Series East schedule, Kennedy competed in the first Euro Racecar Series event competed under NASCAR sanctioning, winning the event at Tours Speedway, the first NASCAR race held on an oval in Europe.[2]

Kennedy at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2015

After finishing ninth in series points in 2012,[1] Kennedy was named by Fox Sports as one of NASCAR's "drivers 25 and under to watch" in January 2013.[3] In April 2013, Kennedy won his first career race in the K&N Pro Series East, in the series' first race held at Five Flags Speedway in Kennedy's native Florida.[4] Kennedy also announced that he would be driving a truck prepared by Turner Scott Motorsports in three Camping World Truck Series races in the 2013 season,[5] running in events at Bristol Motor Speedway, Iowa Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway;[6] he ran a total of five races, posting a best finish of fourth at Martinsville Speedway.[7]

In December 2013, it was announced that Kennedy would drive the No. 31 Chevrolet Silverado full-time in the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season for Turner Scott Motorsports, competing for Rookie of the Year.[7] He got 8 top tens and won ROTY honors. The team closed at the end of the season.

In December 2014, it was announced that Kennedy would move to Red Horse Racing, driving the No. 11 Local Motors Toyota Tundra.

On July 9, 2015, with 7 laps to go in Kentucky, Kennedy was clipped by David Gilliland into the fence where his back of his truck received hard damage, causing the race to be red flagged and eventually ended prematurely with 5 laps left, though he was not injured.[8]

On February 14, 2016, he announced his return to Red Horse Racing with new sponsor JACOB Companies. However, on April 15, RHR announced Kennedy had parted ways with the team.[9] Ten days later, Kennedy joined GMS Racing to drive the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado.[10] On August 17, 2016, after a falter by both Daniel Suárez and William Byron, he won the August Bristol race after a duel with Brett Moffitt.[11] By virtue of that win, he qualified for the inaugural Truck Series Chase. Kennedy advanced to the Round of 6 from the Round of 8 but was eliminated following the Lucas Oil 150.[12] He finished seventh in points.[13]

Also during the 2016 season, Kennedy started his first career Xfinity Series race, driving the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet at Iowa Speedway. He started sixth and finished tenth.[14]

Kennedy at Road America in 2017

On February 6, 2017, it was announced that Kennedy would drive nine races for Richard Childress Racing in the Xfinity Series, splitting time in the No. 2 entry with Austin Dillon and Paul Menard.[15][16] Kennedy received at least one offer to drive in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in that offseason from an undisclosed team, as well as other offers, but took the part-time ride and advice that comes with being around an established Cup organization.[17] He later expanded his schedule with a twelve race agreement to drive the No. 96 car for GMS Racing.[18][19]

Ben Kennedy Racing

Ben Kennedy fielded a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and K&N Pro Series West team. The team started fielding the No. 96 Chevrolet part-time for Ben Kennedy in the K&N East in 2010. In 2011 and 2012, the team became full-time in the East and part-time in the K&N West, and in the West the car was a Toyota. In 2013, the team only fielded the K&N East full-time and made two races in Camping World Truck Series with a 15th best team's finish at Iowa. In 2014, with Ben Kennedy moving to compete full-time in Camping World Truck series for Turner Scott Motorsports, Kenzie Ruston raced full-time in the No. 96 in the K&N East. In 2015, the team moved to Toyota and renumbered the car to No. 3 to Kaz Grala in both K&N Pro Series East and K&N Pro Series West. Ben Kennedy also made one start in K&N West in the old No. 96. In 2016, Grala returned to a part-time schedule in the K&N East. In 2017, the No. 96 returned for Spencer Davis and a second car appeared in the form of the No. 20 for Anthony Sergi. As of 2020 the team currently fields the No. 43 for Daniel Dye.

Personal life

Kennedy is the son of Lesa France Kennedy[20] and Dr. Bruce Kennedy, grandson of Bill France Jr. and great-grandson of Bill France Sr., the founder of NASCAR. He is a 2014 graduate of the University of Florida, with a degree in sports management.[5] In 2017, Kennedy participated in an episode of American Ninja Warrior which was filmed at Daytona International Speedway.[17]

On January 30, 2018, Kennedy was named General Manager of the Camping World Truck Series.[21] After two years in the position, he became NASCAR's Vice President of Racing Development.[22]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Xfinity Series

NASCAR Xfinity Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 NXSC Pts
2016 Richard Childress Racing 2 Chevy DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV CLT POC MCH IOW
10 		DAY KEN NHA IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 106th 01
2017 DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL
4 		IOW
20 		DAY
16 		NHA
6 		IOW
23 		GLN MOH
26 		ROA
18 		KEN
11 		DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM
18 		23rd 326
GMS Racing 96 Chevy CLT
25 		DOV
18 		POC MCH
36 		KEN
32 		IND
18 		BRI
19 		DAR
12 		RCH CHI

Camping World Truck Series

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 NCWTC Pts
2013 Ben Kennedy Racing 96 Chevy DAY MAR CAR KAN CLT DOV TEX KEN IOW ELD POC MCH BRI
20 		MSP IOW
15 		33rd 135
Turner Scott Motorsports 30 Chevy CHI
16 		LVS TAL MAR
4 		TEX PHO HOM
30
2014 31 DAY
15* 		MAR
3 		KAN
20 		CLT
8 		DOV
7 		TEX
14 		GTW
14 		KEN
10 		IOW
6 		ELD
13 		POC
13 		MCH
19 		BRI
21 		MSP
16 		CHI
7 		NHA
13 		LVS
7 		TAL
28 		MAR
16 		TEX
15 		PHO
11 		HOM
17 		9th 679
2015 Red Horse Racing 11 Toyota DAY
28 		ATL
3 		MAR
19 		KAN
26 		CLT
16 		DOV
6 		TEX
10 		GTW
7 		IOW
13 		KEN
16 		ELD
12 		POC
11 		MCH
25 		BRI
15 		MSP
3 		CHI
12 		NHA
23 		LVS
3 		TAL
25 		MAR
14 		TEX
9 		PHO
24 		HOM
4 		9th 690
2016 DAY
23 		ATL
15 		MAR
11 		7th 2162
GMS Racing 33 Chevy KAN
9 		CLT
14 		TEX
4 		IOW
7 		GTW
9 		KEN
22 		ELD
11 		POC
7 		BRI
1 		MCH
11 		MSP
8 		CHI
26 		NHA
11 		LVS
4 		TAL
5 		MAR
18 		TEX
13 		PHO
9 		HOM
14
24 DOV
13

K&N Pro Series East

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 NKNPSEC Pts
2010 Ben Kennedy Racing 96 Chevy GRE SBO IOW MAR NHA LRP LEE GRE
24 		NHA DOV 60th 91
2011 GRE
11 		SBO
14 		RCH
27 		IOW
15 		BGS
3 		GRE
11 		LGY
18 		NHA
32 		COL
19 		GRE
22 		NHA
16 		DOV
12 		13th 1367
2012 BRI
6 		GRE
9 		RCH
6 		IOW
22 		BGS
8 		GRE
5 		LGY
21 		CNB
3 		COL
7 		IOW
19 		NHA
25 		DOV
4 		GRE
16 		CAR
9 		9th 456
2013 BRI
10 		GRE
17 		PEN
1* 		RCH
14 		BGS
1 		IOW
9 		LGY
7 		COL
9 		IOW
11 		VIR
4 		GRE
10 		NHA
26 		DOV
12 		RAL
6 		4th 488
2017 Kevin Manion Motorsports 1 Toyota NSM GRE BRI SBO SBO MEM BLN TMP NHA IOW
7 		GLN LGY NJM DOV 45th 38

K&N Pro Series West

NASCAR K&N Pro Series West results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 NKNPSWC Pts
2011 Ben Kennedy Racing 96 Chevy PHO AAS MMP IOW LVS SON IRW EVG PIR CNS
8 		SRP AAS PHO
15 		34th 402
Toyota MRP
8
2012 PHO
11 		LHC MMP S99 IOW BIR LVS SON EVG CNS
9 		IOW PIR SMP AAS PHO
10 		27th 102
2015 Ben Kennedy Racing 96 Toyota KCR IRW TUS IOW SHA SON SLS IOW EVG CNS MER AAS PHO
25 		69th 19

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

References

  1. ^ a b c "NASCAR Home Tracks: Ben Kennedy". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group LLC. February 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-04-07. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  2. ^ Christley, Jason (July 7, 2012). "Kennedy Makes History At Tours". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  3. ^ "Drivers 25 and under to watch: Ben Kennedy". Fox Sports. January 17, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  4. ^ "Ben Kennedy wins in Pensacola". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Daytona Beach, FL. April 13, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  5. ^ a b Spencer, Lee (April 16, 2013). "Kennedy has bright future in racing". Fox Sports. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  6. ^ Kelly, Godwin (April 15, 2013). "Kennedy enjoys first win; ready for truck debut". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Daytona Beach, FL. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  7. ^ a b "Ben Kennedy to drive for Turner Scott Motorsports". Yahoo! Sports. December 16, 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-16.
  8. ^ Bromberg, Nick (July 9, 2015). "Ben Kennedy's truck gets into catchfence at Kentucky (Video)". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  9. ^ White, Tucker (April 17, 2016). "Ben Kennedy parts company with Red Horse Racing". SpeedwayMedia.com. Bristol, Tennessee: USA Today Sports Digital Properties. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  10. ^ Knight, Chris (April 25, 2016). "Ben Kennedy Set To Join GMS Racing". Catchfence. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  11. ^ "Chevrolet driver Ben Kennedy gets his first career NASCAR trucks victory". Autoweek. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
  12. ^ "Kennedy Eliminated in Round of 6 After Two-Team Effort in 2016 – POPULAR SPEED". www.popularspeed.com. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
  13. ^ "2016 Camping World Truck Series Standings | Driver Points". www.foxsports.com. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
  14. ^ "Driver Ben Kennedy 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
  15. ^ "Ben Kennedy scores part-time XFINITY Series ride with RCR". Fox News. 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
  16. ^ "Ben Kennedy secures partial season ride with RCR Xfinity team". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
  17. ^ a b "Eyes on XFINITY: Ben Kennedy Counting Down the Days Until He's Back in a Racecar". Frontstretch. 2017-04-13. Retrieved 2017-04-13.
  18. ^ McFadin, Daniel (2017-04-17). "Ben Kennedy adds 12 Xfinity starts with GMS Racing to schedule". NASCAR Talk. Retrieved 2017-04-24.
  19. ^ "Ben Kennedy more than doubles his 2017 NASCAR Xfinity schedule". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 2017-04-24.
  20. ^ "Ben Kennedy: There Are Different Things I Wish I Spent More Time Doing". Frontstretch. 2016-12-22. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
  21. ^ Crandall, Kelly (January 30, 2018). "Kennedy named Trucks GM in NASCAR personnel moves". Racer. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  22. ^ McFadin, Daniel (February 6, 2020). "Ben Kennedy among NASCAR leadership promotions". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
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