Ben Kennedy (NASCAR)

Ben Kennedy
Kennedy at Road America in 2017
Executive Vice President NASCAR Chief Venue & Racing Innovations Officer
Incumbent
Assumed office March 10, 2022
Personal details
Born	(1991-12-26) December 26, 1991 (age 32) Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
Parents	Dr. Bruce Kennedy (father) Lesa Kennedy (mother)
Relatives	Bill France Sr. (great grandfather) Bill France Jr. (grandfather) Jim France (great uncle) Brian France (uncle)
Education	University of Florida (BA)
Occupation	NASCAR executive; Auto racing driver; ARCA Menards Series East team owner
NASCAR driver
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
17 races run over 2 years
2017 position	23rd
Best finish	23rd (2017)
First race	2016 American Ethanol E15 250 (Iowa)
Last race	2017 Ford EcoBoost 300 (Homestead)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 3 0
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
73 races run over 4 years
2016 position	7th
Best finish	7th (2016)
First race	2013 UNOH 200 (Bristol)
Last race	2016 Ford EcoBoost 200 (Homestead)
First win	2016 UNOH 200 (Bristol)
Wins Top tens Poles 1 26 1
Previous series
2012 2011–2012, 2015 2010–2013, 2017	Racecar Euro Series NASCAR K&N Pro Series West NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
Awards
2014	NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year
Last updated on: March 10, 2022.

Benjamin Kennedy (born December 26, 1991) is an American motorsports executive and former professional stock car racing driver. He currently serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Venue & Racing Innovations Officer for NASCAR.

On January 30, 2018, Kennedy was appointed as the general manager of the Camping World Truck Series.^[1] After one season in the role, he transitioned to a position focused on strategic initiatives.

In January 2019, Kennedy joined NASCAR's racing operations team, focusing on the sport's international development.^[2] A year later, he was promoted to Vice President of Racing Development.^[3] In July 2020, he advanced to Vice President of Strategic Initiatives,^[4] overseeing racing development for NASCAR's three national series. By June 2021, he was named Senior Vice President of Strategy and Innovation, reporting directly to NASCAR President Steve Phelps.^[5]

Kennedy is responsible for developing the schedules for the sport's top three series. In this role, he played a key part in introducing the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum, a pre-season exhibition race held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.^[6] NASCAR refers to him as the "point man" for scheduling.^[7]

On March 10, 2022, NASCAR announced the promotion of Kennedy to Senior Vice President of Racing Development and Strategy.^[8]

On July 17, 2024, NASCAR further elevated him to the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Venue & Racing Innovations Officer as part of a major company restructuring.^[9]

Kennedy launched his racing career on the short tracks of central Florida, earning championships in Super Late Models at Orlando Speedworld and in Pro Truck racing at both Orlando Speedworld and New Smyrna Speedway.^[10] He made his touring series debut in the K&N Pro Series East in 2010 and competed full-time in the series starting in 2011.^[10]

In 2012, Kennedy competed in the full K&N Pro Series East schedule and participated in the inaugural Euro Racecar Series event under NASCAR sanction. He won the race at Tours Speedway, marking the first NASCAR event held on an oval in Europe.^[11]

After finishing ninth in series points in 2012,^[10] Kennedy was highlighted by Fox Sports in January 2013 as one of NASCAR's "Drivers 25 and Under to Watch."^[12] Later that year, he secured his first career win in the K&N Pro Series East during the series' inaugural race at Five Flags Speedway in his home state of Florida.^[13] Kennedy also announced plans to compete in three Camping World Truck Series races with Turner Scott Motorsports,^[14] racing at Bristol Motor Speedway, Iowa Speedway, and Homestead–Miami Speedway.^[15] He ultimately participated in five events, achieving a best finish of fourth at Martinsville Speedway.^[16] Kennedy capped off the season by being named the K&N Pro Series East's Most Popular Driver for 2013.^[17]

In December 2013, it was announced that Kennedy would drive the No. 31 Chevrolet Silverado full-time for Turner Scott Motorsports in the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, competing for Rookie of the Year.^[18] Kennedy earned eight top-ten finishes and claimed Rookie of the Year honors. However, the team ceased operations at the end of the season.

In December 2014, Kennedy was announced as the driver of the No. 11 Local Motors Toyota Tundra for Red Horse Racing.

On July 9, 2015, during a race in Kentucky, Kennedy was involved in an incident with seven laps remaining. David Gilliland clipped Kennedy, sending his truck into the fence and causing significant damage to the rear. The crash led to a red flag, and the race was ultimately called off with five laps remaining. Despite the severity of the crash, Kennedy was uninjured.^[19]

On February 14, 2016, Kennedy announced his return to Red Horse Racing with new sponsor JACOB Companies. However, on April 15, the team announced that Kennedy had parted ways with them.^[20] Just ten days later, he joined GMS Racing to drive the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado.^[21] On August 17, 2016, after setbacks for both Daniel Suárez and William Byron, Kennedy secured a victory in the Bristol race, defeating Brett Moffitt in a thrilling duel.^[22] This win qualified him for the inaugural Truck Series Chase. Kennedy advanced from the Round of 8 to the Round of 6 but was eliminated after the Lucas Oil 150.^[23] He finished the season seventh in points.^[24]

During the 2016 season, Kennedy made his Xfinity Series debut, driving the No. 2 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing at Iowa Speedway. He qualified sixth and finished tenth.

On February 6, 2017, it was announced that Kennedy would compete in nine Xfinity Series races for Richard Childress Racing, sharing the No. 2 car with Austin Dillon and Paul Menard.^[25][26] During the offseason, Kennedy received an offer to drive in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series from an undisclosed team, along with other opportunities.^[27] However, he opted for the part-time Xfinity ride, valuing the experience and guidance available within an established Cup organization. Later, Kennedy expanded his schedule with a twelve-race agreement to drive the No. 96 car for GMS Racing.^[28][29]

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

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	Ref
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	[30]
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	[31]
	GMS Racing	96	Chevy										CLT 25	DOV 18	POC	MCH 36			KEN 32		IND 18				BRI 19		DAR 12	RCH	CHI

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	Ref
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	[32]
	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	[33]
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	[34]
2016				DAY 23	ATL 15	MAR 11																					7th	2162	[35]
	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

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	Ref
2010	Ben Kennedy Racing	96	Chevy	GRE	SBO	IOW	MAR	NHA	LRP	LEE	JFC 24	NHA	DOV					60th	91	[36]
2011				GRE 11	SBO 14	RCH 27	IOW 15	BGS 3	JFC 11	LGY 18	NHA 32	COL 19	GRE 22	NHA 16	DOV 12			13th	1367	[37]
2012				BRI 6	GRE 9	RCH 6	IOW 22	BGS 8	JFC 5	LGY 21	CNB 3	COL 7	IOW 19	NHA 25	DOV 4	GRE 16	CAR 9	9th	456	[38]
2013				BRI 10	GRE 17	FIF 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	[39]
2017	Kevin Manion Motorsports	1	Toyota	NSM	GRE	BRI	SBO	SBO	MEM	BLN	TMP	NHA	IOW 7	GLN	LGY	NJM	DOV	45th	38	[40]

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	Ref
2011	Ben Kennedy Racing	96	Chevy	PHO	AAS	MMP	IOW	LVS	SON	IRW	EVG	PIR	CNS 8				PHO 15		34th	402	[41]
			Toyota											MRP 8	SPO	AAS
2012				PHO 11	LHC	MMP	S99	IOW	BIR	LVS	SON	EVG	CNS 9	IOW	PIR	SMP	AAS	PHO 10	27th	102	[42]
2015	Ben Kennedy Racing	96	Toyota	KCR	IRW	TUS	IOW	SHA	SON	SLS	IOW	EVG	CNS	MER	AAS	PHO 25			69th	19	[43]

^* Season still in progress

¹ Ineligible for series points

• Official website
• Ben Kennedy driver statistics at Racing-Reference