Ben Kennedy and Jacob Companies Team Persevere for 11th-Place Finish after Eventful Day at Martinsville

Ben Kennedy and the No. 11 Jacob Companies team fought through adversity to earn an 11th-place finish at Martinsville Speedway in the Alpha Energy Solutions 250. On Friday, NASCAR Camping World Series teams participated in three practice sessions and Kennedy posted the 12th, 11th and 14th-fastest times. On Saturday, three rounds of knockout group qualifying at the half-mile track determined the starting order for the 250-lap race. Kennedy transferred to the second round and secured the 15th starting position. The field took the green flag Saturday afternoon and Kennedy quickly started picking up positions. When the caution flag flew on lap 43, Kennedy was scored in 13th and visited pit road for four tires, fuel and adjustments after reporting that his Toyota Tundra was loose. After a second four-tire pit stop under caution on lap 97, Kennedy began to move forward, working his way as high as fifth. On lap 165, contact with another truck sent Kennedy spinning, but with little damage, the team changed tires and Kennedy stayed on the lead lap. However, within a few laps, Kennedy was caught up in another wreck and sustained substantial sheet metal damage. The No. 11 Jacob Companies team quickly repaired the damage and kept Kennedy on the lead lap and he restarted 19th. Under a subsequent caution, Kennedy visited pit road for the final time for sticker tires and further repairs. Kennedy restarted in 21st with 59 laps to go, and he was on the move in 16th-place when contact from another truck sent him spinning once again. After restarting in the 18th position with 25 laps to go, Kennedy narrowly avoided several more wrecks before recording an 11th-place finish.
 
Start – 15
Finish – 11
Driver Points Position – 13
Laps Led – 0
 
Ben Kennedy Quote:                                          
“We had a really fast Jacob Companies Toyota Tundra this weekend, but unfortunately we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time and got caught up in a couple incidents that lost us track position. I’m proud of the way that Scott (Zipadelli, crew chief) and the guys battled back and made repairs so that we were able to finish 11th.”

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