Ben Kennedy Scores Third Career Xfinity Top 10 at NHMS

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer

In just his fifth race with Richard Childress Racing, Ben Kennedy scores his third NASCAR Xfinity Series Top 10 finish. Kennedy finished the Overton’s 200 in sixth, his No. 2 Richmond / Menards Chevrolet Camaro the last car on the lead lap.

Kennedy had an up and down day at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, running as low as 19th after a rain delay in Stage 1 split strategies throughout the field. Like others, he brought his car down pit road to the attention of his crew. However, Kennedy was unable to work his way through the traffic in the short run.

Kennedy’s moment of the race came not on the racetrack, but rather on pit road. A flawless green flag pit stop by the Justin Alexander-led crew got Kennedy off of pit road without losing any positions or time. Kennedy’s team also avoided the mistake that Brad Keselowski’s team made. Keselowski’s gasman had trouble dis-engaging the fuel can, causing it to be dragged out of the box.

Kennedy Tweeted after the race that he was proud of his team,

https://twitter.com/BenKennedy33/status/886382650176438272

In Stage 2, Kennedy finished 10th, earning one additional Championship Point. However, he is not running the full season and therefore is not competing for the Championship. At the end of the race, Kennedy was the third-best NASCAR Xfinity Series regular, behind Ryan Preece (second), and William Byron (third).

Kennedy’s sixth place finish comes just days after the 10th anniversary of his father, Dr. Bruce Kennedy’s, fatal plane crash. The younger Kennedy Tweeted out a message remembering his father earlier in the week,

https://twitter.com/BenKennedy33/status/884591487417278465

This was Kennedy’s third career Top 10 finish in just his ninth NASCAR Xfinity Series start.

Kennedy has five more races scheduled with Richard Childress Racing this season. Although his next race is scheduled to be with GMS Racing in the Lilly Diabetes 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway next Saturday.