Ben Kennedy, Sam Hornish Jr., AJ Allmendinger and Michael McDowell to compete in XFINITY Series events this year.
WELCOME, N.C. (June 8, 2016) – Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has announced the addition of four drivers to its 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series team roster to compete in races at Iowa Speedway, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Road America and Kentucky Speedway. The drivers will share seat time in the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro with crew chief Danny Stockman.
“I’m looking forward to working with this talented group of drivers,” said Danny Stockman, crew chief of the No. 2 RCR team. “It’s going to be great to work with Ben (Kennedy) in his XFINITY Series debut and also with all the veteran drivers. They’ll bring a lot to the table for us. I’m confident we’ll have a shot to win with all of these guys.”
Ben Kennedy is scheduled to pilot the Ruud Chevrolet in the XFINITY Series race at Iowa Speedway on June 19. The 24-year-old driver currently competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and will make his XFINITY Series debut with the Welcome, N.C.-based organization. Kennedy has three starts to his credit at the 0.875-mile track in the Camping World Truck Series, where he’s earned one top-10 finish.
Sam Hornish Jr. is slated to drive the Rheem Chevrolet for RCR at the second Iowa Speedway race of the season on July 30 and Kentucky Speedway on September 24. Hornish brings a wealth of XFINITY Series experience to the driver’s seat of the No. 2 Chevrolet. To date, Hornish has accumulated 110 starts in the XFINITY Series, earning three victories, seven pole awards, 32 top-five and 57 top-10 finishes with 1,124 laps led.
With an off weekend on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule, AJ Allmendinger will join the Rheem team at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on August 13 for the road course race. In more than 40 career road course starts, Allmendinger has garnered seven wins and five pole awards.
Rounding out the season’s road course races, Michael McDowell takes to the seat of the Rheem Chevrolet at Road America. The No. 2 team earned the victory at the Plymouth, Wisc.-based track last season with driver Paul Menard. McDowell has 12 road course starts in the XFINITY Series, collecting three top-five and five top-10 finishes with two pole awards.
“We’re honored to have these gifted drivers join the team for selected races during the 2016 season,” said Mike Dillon, RCR’s vice president of competition. “We’re working hard to put together a driver lineup that allows us to compete for the XFINITY Series owner’s championship. With Ben, Sam, AJ and Michael joining Austin (Dillon) and Paul (Menard) in the No. 2 Camaro seat, I’m confident we’ll be able to challenge for the title this season and be a threat to win in each of the races.”
Dillon and Menard will continue to share the seat of the No. 2 Chevrolet for the remainder of the 2016 season.
About Richard Childress Racing: Richard Childress Racing (rcrracing.com) is a renowned, performance-driven racing, marketing and manufacturing organization. RCR has earned more than 200 victories and 15 championships, including six in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Its 2016 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes two-time NASCAR champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Dow/American Ethanol/Cheerios/AAA Chevrolet), 2011 Brickyard 400 champion Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet) and 2008 Daytona 500 champion and 2013 Brickyard 400 winner Ryan Newman (No. 31 Caterpillar/Grainger/WIX Filters Chevrolet). Its XFINITY Series program includes a multi-driver lineup with Austin Dillon and Paul Menard (No. 2 Rheem/Menards Chevrolet), 2012 Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year Ty Dillon (No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Rheem/WESCO/Red Kap Chevrolet), Rookie of the Year contender Brandon Jones (No. 33 Menards/Nexteer Chevrolet) and Brendan Gaughan (No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino/WIX Filters Chevrolet).
