Roush Fenway Racing has announced the hiring of two industry veterans to senior positions in its competition group. Mark McArdle will oversee engineering for the organization’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) teams. Kevin Kidd will serve as NSCS team manager, supervising at-track operations beginning next season for an organization that has placed multiple cars in the ‘Chase’ in all 10 seasons of the format’s existence.
“I’m confident that having Mark and Kevin in these two key positions will make our organization even stronger next season,” said team co-owner Jack Roush. “Mark has a pedigree in racing that spans multiple platforms and speaks for itself in terms of results. He has a reputation not only for success, but as a great manager and motivator.
“Kevin is recognized in the garage as one of the brightest minds in our sport,” added Roush. “He has acquired invaluable experience working with both veteran and young drivers, and will be a great asset to our Sprint Cup program week in and week out at the race track. We look forward to bringing both Mark and Kevin on board and welcoming them into the fold.”
McArdle, a successful veteran of IndyCar and NASCAR racing, has been named engineering director and will directly oversee Roush Fenway’s engineering efforts. A renowned engine builder, McArdle boasts three victories in the famed Indianapolis 500 with Penske Racing in 1991, 1993 and 1994, having worked with a litany of open-wheel legends including Ricky Mears, Emerson Fittipaldi, Al Unser Jr. and Michael Andretti.
McArdle has spent the last 15 years working in NASCAR, having served in high-level positions with Roush Yates Engines, Evernham Motorsports, Furniture Row Racing and most recently as director of racing operation at Richard Childress Racing.
“Roush Fenway Racing has a tradition and history of success like none other in motorsports, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it,” said McArdle. “I’ve always had a very deep respect for Jack Roush and his entire organization, and know that the expectation for him, his drivers, teams and sponsors is to win races and championships at every level. I look forward to becoming part of that winning tradition, and to continuing it in 2015 and beyond.”
Kevin Kidd has been named NSCS team manager. He will join Roush Fenway after having served as the crew chief for the No. 20 NASCAR Nationwide Series team at Joe Gibbs Racing since 2010. During that time he guided his teams to nearly 90 top-10 finishes in 167 starts with veteran drivers such as Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin, as well as a host of developmental drivers.
“Roush Fenway is a perennial ‘Chase’ contender with three extremely talented drivers in the 2015 line-up,” said Kidd. “All of the right resources are in position to place all three of those drivers into the ‘Chase’ next season, and that will be our goal. I’ve had a great deal of experience working with both veterans and younger drivers, and this organization has a great mix of that with Greg Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne. I look forward to the opportunity to work with each of them, their teams and everyone at Roush Fenway.”
Kidd will move into his new role at the conclusion of the 2014 season.
RFR PR
