After running inside the top 10 for almost the entire afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway and leading for six laps, Ben Kennedy was involved in the “Big One” on lap 92, relegating the Local Motors team to a 25th-place finish in the fred’s 250. In his second visit to the 2.66-mile superspeedway, Kennedy posted the fifth and 13th-fastest times in the series’ two practice sessions on Friday. The No. 11 team returned to the famed Alabama race track the following morning and advanced to the final session in single-truck qualifying, and earned the fifth starting position. Only three tenths of a second separated Kennedy from his Red Horse Racing teammate, Timothy Peters, who earned the pole award. The Daytona Beach, Florida native took the green flag and jumped into the third position on the first lap. He remained inside the top five until coming to pit road during the Lap-35 caution. Crew chief Scott Zipadelli called for fresh right-side Goodyear tires, air pressure and wedge adjustments, and fuel, and the black and white Toyota Tundra restarted in seventh. Kennedy battled inside the top 10 through green-flag pit stops and two more caution periods. Racing side-by-side in the closing laps, Kennedy was clipped in the right rear and collected in the infamous “Big One.” He was able to drive the Local Motors machine to pit road for repairs, and during the red flag the No. 11 team worked on their plan. They returned him to competition and he took the checkered flag in the 25th position.
Start – 5
Finish – 25
Driver Points Position – 9
Laps Led – 6
Ben Kennedy Quote:
“It is really disappointing to leave here [Talladega Superspeedway] with this finish after all of our hard work. We had a fast Local Motors Toyota Tundra and good track position all day, and we just got caught up in the mess at the end. Thank you to all of the guys. The No. 11 team did a great job all weekend, and on pit road, and the guys back at the shop built us a great truck. Congrats to Timothy (Peters) and the No. 17 team on the win. It’s good for all of us to get Red Horse Racing back in Victory Lane.”
RHR PR
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