Benjamin Kennedy (born December 26, 1991) is an American motorsports executive and former stock car racing driver. He is as the chief operating officer for NASCAR.
Executive career
General manager of Truck Series On January 30, 2018, Kennedy was appointed as the general manager of the Camping World Truck Series. After one season in the role, he transitioned to a position focused on strategic initiatives.
NASCAR front office In January 2019, Kennedy joined NASCAR's racing operations team, focusing on the sport's international development. A year later, he was promoted to Vice President of Racing Development. In July 2020, he advanced to Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, 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.
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. NASCAR refers to him as the "point man" for scheduling.
On March 10, 2022, NASCAR announced the promotion of Kennedy to Senior Vice President of Racing Development and Strategy.
On July 17, 2024, NASCAR further elevated Kennedy to the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Venue & Racing Innovations Officer as part of a major company restructuring.
He was promoted to Chief Operating Officer on April 25, 2026.
Racing career
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. 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.
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.
After finishing ninth in series points in 2012, Kennedy was highlighted by Fox Sports in January 2013 as one of NASCAR's "Drivers 25 and Under to Watch." 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. Kennedy also announced plans to compete in three Camping World Truck Series races with Turner Scott Motorsports, racing at Bristol Motor Speedway, Iowa Speedway, and Homestead–Miami Speedway. He ultimately participated in five events, achieving a best finish of fourth at Martinsville Speedway. Kennedy capped off the season by being named the K&N Pro Series East's Most Popular Driver for 2013.
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. 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.
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. Just ten days later, he joined GMS Racing to drive the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado. 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. 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. He finished the season seventh in points.
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. During the offseason, Kennedy received an offer to drive in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series from an undisclosed team, along with other opportunities. 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.
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 resultsYearTeamNo.Make123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233PtsRef2016Richard Childress Racing2ChevyDAYATLLVSPHOCALTEXBRIRCHTALDOVCLTPOCMCHIOW10DAYKENNHAINDIOWGLNMOHBRIROADARRCHCHIKENDOVCLTKANTEXPHOHOM106th012017DAYATLLVSPHOCALTEXBRIRCHTAL4IOW20DAY16NHA6IOW23GLNMOH26ROA18KEN11HOM1823rd326GMS Racing96ChevyCLT25DOV18POCWthMCH36KEN32IND18BRI19DAR12RCHWthCHIWthDOVWthCLTWthKANTEXPHO
Camping World Truck Series NASCAR Camping World Truck Series resultsYearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920212223PtsRef2013Ben Kennedy Racing96ChevyDAYMARCARKANCLTDOVTEXKENIOWELDPOCMCHBRI20MSPIOW1533rd135Turner Scott Motorsports30ChevyCHI16LVSTALMAR4TEXPHOHOM30201431DAY15*MAR3KAN20CLT8DOV7TEX14GTW14KEN10IOW6ELD13POC13MCH19BRI21MSP16CHI7NHA13LVS7TAL28MAR16TEX15PHO11HOM179th6792015Red Horse Racing11ToyotaDAY28ATL3MAR19KAN26CLT16DOV6TEX10GTW7IOW13KEN16ELD12POC11MCH25BRI15MSP3CHI12NHA23LVS3TAL25MAR14TEX9PHO24HOM49th6902016DAY23ATL15MAR117th2162GMS Racing33ChevyKAN9CLT14TEX4IOW7GTW9KEN22ELD11POC7BRI1MCH11MSP8CHI26NHA11LVS4TAL5MAR18TEX13PHO9HOM1424DOV13
K&N Pro Series East NASCAR K&N Pro Series East resultsYearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314PtsRef2010Ben Kennedy Racing96ChevyGRESBOIOWMARNHALRPLEEJFC24NHADOV60th912011GRE11SBO14RCH27IOW15BGS3JFC11LGY18NHA32COL19GRE22NHA16DOV1213th13672012BRI6GRE9RCH6IOW22BGS8JFC5LGY21CNB3COL7IOW19NHA25DOV4GRE16CAR99th4562013BRI10GRE17FIF1*RCH14BGS1IOW9LGY7COL9IOW11VIR4GRE10NHA26DOV12RAL64th4882017Kevin Manion Motorsports1ToyotaNSMGREBRISBOSBOMEMBLNTMPNHAIOW7GLNLGYNJMDOV45th38
K&N Pro Series West NASCAR K&N Pro Series West resultsYearTeamNo.Make123456789101112131415PtsRef2011Ben Kennedy Racing96ChevyPHOAASMMPIOWLVSSONIRWEVGPIRCNS8PHO1534th402ToyotaMRP8SPOAAS2012PHO11LHCMMPS99IOWBIRLVSSONEVGCNS9IOWPIRSMPAASPHO1027th1022015Ben Kennedy Racing96ToyotaKCRIRWTUSIOWSHASONSLSIOWEVGCNSMERAASPHO2569th19 Season still in progress
Ineligible for series points
References
External links