Pure Michigan…The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) officially enters the second half of the 2014 season as the series heads to Michigan International Speedway for race 12 of 22. This will be Ben Kennedy’s first start at the 2.0-mile D-shaped oval, but the Turner Scott Motorsports (TSM) organization is no stranger to victory lane in Michigan, holding the title of the defending race winner of the past two events. The No. 31 team took the trophy at the track in 2013 with James Buescher behind the wheel, while Nelson Piquet Jr. became the first Brazilian to win a NCWTS race when he captured the victory in 2012.
Mirror Driving…With one half of the 2014 season behind him, Kennedy and the No. 31 team can be proud of their accomplishments in the first half of the year. In 11 events, Kennedy has earned one pole (Daytona), one top five, five top 10s, and led 58 laps, putting him seventh in the NCWTS Driver Point Standings. The Daytona Beach native has also led the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings since the second race of the season in Martinsville on the strength of being the top-finishing rookie in seven events.
Feel The Heat…Heater.com will once again be aboard the No. 31 Chevrolet Silverado. Heater.com is a world-leading heating product online retailer. The site features a wide variety of indoor and outdoor heating products to meet everyone’s needs. Heater.com gives consumers key information in the form of pictures, text and video allowing them to make the most informed buying decision. Heater.com is the “One Stop Shop for ALL Things Heating!” For more information, visit the company’s web site at www.heater.com.
This Week’s Silverado…Kennedy and the No. 31 Heater.com crew will utilize chassis TSM-214 this week at Michigan International Speedway. The truck known to TSM as “Honey Badger” is a favorite of the No. 31 crew after it was driven to victory in all four of James Buescher’s wins in 2012 on the way to taking the NCWTS title. Kennedy most recently ran this chassis at Dover International Speedway, where he captured a seventh-place finish.
Watch and Listen…The Careers for Veterans 200 can be seen live on Saturday, August 16 at 12:00 p.m. EDT on FOX Sports 1. The event can also be heard live on MRN Radio as well as SiriusXM Satellite Radio, channel 90.
Previous Race Recap…Kennedy had an impressive first outing at the Tricky Triangle, leading laps and running in the front of the field for much of the Pocono Mountains 150. After two very strong practice sessions and a fourth-place starting spot, Kennedy was in the top 10 for much of the 150-mile event, leading six laps and ultimately bringing home a 13th-place finish at Pocono Raceway, earning Sunoco Rookie of the Race honors for the seventh time in 2014.
Ben Kennedy on Michigan International Speedway:
“I’m really looking forward to getting on track for practice in Michigan. This is one track I’ve never been on in any series, not even for a test or anything. Everyone talks about how fast the track is and how much grip it has now because of the repave. It’s challenging anytime you go to a place for the first time, because you have to learn it so quickly, but it can also be really fun.”
TSM PR
