Kennedy Earns Top-15 Finish in Season Finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway

Ben Kennedy, driver of the No. 33 JACOB Companies / Florida Lottery Chevrolet, earned a 14th-place finish in the Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday night.  The Daytona Beach, Fla., native started from the 14th position for the 134-lap event, reporting to crew chief Joey Cohen that his truck was too free in the opening laps. When the field fell under caution for the first time on lap 15, Kennedy visited pit road for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. He continued to battle free conditions throughout the race, pitting an additional three times for adjustments and tires. He advanced as high as ninth just before the halfway point of the race but ultimately fell back to the 12th position. A long green-flag run to the finish stalled Kennedy’s efforts and he dropped two more positions before crossing the line in 14th.

 

Kennedy closed out the season with four top fives and 10 top-ten finishes. He earned his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) win at Bristol Motor Speedway in August, clinching a spot in the inaugural NCWTS Chase.

 

Ben Kennedy Quote:

“I can’t say enough about this team and everything we have accomplished this year. It has been a fun ride, despite the ending. GMS Racing has been everything I had hoped and I’m really glad to see the team enjoying their hard work with Johnny (Sauter) winning the championship. I don’t think it’s fair to analyze what went wrong in the moment, when we have had such an amazing season. Joey (Cohen, crew chief) and the No. 33 team did an amazing job with everything we faced this year. It just wasn’t meant to be for us, but we fought hard and that’s all I can ask of them.”

GMS Racing PR