Spraker Racing reached back into their history books a bit to find a driver for the ARCA race on Saturday, February 18 at Daytona International Speedway.
Alex Kennedy of Aztec, N.M. will wheel the No. 08 Ford for the team. The 20-year old driver and team raced together in 2009 where they achieved a top-10 points finish in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. He also ran one race in 2010 for the team.
Since then, Kennedy has gone on to make 11 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts the past two seasons achieving one top-20 finish and six finishes better than 25th place.
And, as has been the case in almost all of his NNS starts, he will be carrying the Dream Factory on board for Daytona. Dream Factory (http://www.dreamfactoryinc.org/) is a non-profit volunteer organization granting dreams to children with critical or chronic illnesses between the ages of three and 18. Other marketing partnership opportunities are still available for the race.
This will be Kennedy’s first time racing the 2.5-mile high banks of Daytona.
“New venues are nothing for us with Alex,” said Jeff Spraker, team owner. “We went to Dover with him a few years back and he was third on the sheet after the first practice. This car has been tested at both Daytona and Talladega and we’re pretty confident we have a good Ford. Alex is a quick study and adapts quickly to new tracks.
“We have a Roush engine and will be getting some pit support from them for the race, too. They have been very helpful towards our team and this couldn’t happen without them.
“You know, the first time we had Alex in our car at Caraway (N.C.) Speedway he was all of 15-years old. And now, five years later, the same group of guys is going to Daytona with him. There aren’t too many teams that can say that these days.”
For Kennedy, the chance to race at Daytona is something he’s been looking to do for years.
“When this all came together, I couldn’t believe the opportunity to finally race the historic track of Daytona was finally going to happen,” he said. “We’ve always had a good relationship with Spraker and were fairly successful during our K&N Pro Series East days together.
“We’re going to have a Roush motor and some crew guys helping us out on the track and NASCAR veteran Jimmy Kitchens is going to spot for me. I’m going to take it all in and learn everything I can during every lap.”
Qualifying takes place on Friday, February 17 with race action starting at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 18. The 80-lap race can be seen live on SPEED TV.
Spraker Racing
