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A Family Affair: Kennedy Leads Every Lap to Capture K&N Pro Series East NAPA Auto Parts 150

By Chuck Corder

NASCAR could not have scripted a more fitting conclusion in its return to Five Flags Speedway.

Truly one of its own put on an epic clinic to claim the first NASCAR checkered in Pensacola since 1997.

Ben Kennedy, grandson of NASCAR founder William France Sr., went wire to wire to claim the K&N Pro Series East NAPA Auto Parts 150 on Saturday night.

It was Kennedy’s first win in three seasons driving with K&N, a development series for NASCAR.

“I’m speechless,� Kennedy said of his dominant performance. “I didn’t think I’d be out front to be honest. This is awesome. I love that it came here at Five Flags.�

Kennedy was the pole sitter, his third of his K&N career, with a blistering time of 17.125 seconds.

Once the opening green flag dropped, he backed it up by pulling away from the rest of the 26-car field.

Kennedy began lapping cars on Lap 24 and never had to sweat yielding the lead throughout the night despite three cautions.

“Our goal was to get a good lead and save for the end,� he said. “I can’t complain one bit.�

Kennedy was one of five drivers that had previous experience running at the famed half-mile asphalt oval.

The Dayton Beach native and University of Florida junior has made two Snowball Derby appearances and owns a podium finish at the 2011 Snowflake 100, finishing third to perennial late model favorite Augie Grill.

“There were a bunch of aspects with the car and the setup that we’ve learned from being here before,� Kennedy acknowledged.

Three of the top five finishers had competed at Five Flags before Saturday’s race.

Gray Gaulding wasn’t one of them. But a perceived lack of experience has never caused the 15 year old to back down.

Never seeing Pensacola’s high banks before this week did little to deter his confidence and his eventual runner-up performance.

“This place changes a bunch and I just did my best to learn from this experience,� said Gaulding, who began racing at 3 with dirt bikes. “Ben, what can you say about him? That was impressive.�

Gaulding, who reached second past Cale Conley on Lap 41, had a couple cracks at getting by Kennedy on restarts.

Each time, though, Kennedy worked the inside groove to perfection and pulled away to regain the straightaway lead he enjoyed most of the night.

The other intriguing storyline that the grandstands closely watched was the fate of Kenzie Ruston.

The El Reno, Okla., native first charmed Five Flags fans a few years back when she battled Mike Garvey in a Pro Late Model race.

On Saturday, when she climbed to third, the roar of the crowd was reminiscent to the outpouring of support her close friend Johanna Long gets when she races in her hometown.

“It’s very overwhelming,� Ruston said afterward of the response. “It’s an awesome place to come. And it gives me hope one day I might have a Danica-like following.�

Ruston struggled a bit in the latter half Saturday, but still managed to come home in fifth.

A week ago in Greenville, S.C., Ruston made series history with a third-place finish. That was the highest a female had ever finished in a K&N Pro Series race, eclipsing the aforementioned Danica Patrick, who finished sixth three seasons ago.

“Definitely a top five is what we were shooting for,� Ruston said. “We had to go a little too hard at the start of that second 75. We didn’t have quite enough tire there at the end.�

Not that it would’ve mattered.

Kennedy’s memorable run capped a historic night in Pensacola.

 

Motocrycles

Rob McClendon has no fear.

Each time he climbs aboard his motorcycle, McClendon proves that point.

Leaning his motorcycle inches away from the asphalt, McClendon once again won the expert division at Five Flags Speedway, leading every lap despite a valiant performance from runner-up Shannon Norris.

Following his win, McClendon put his young son between his legs and rode around the track as the fans showered him with applause.

“He's definitely all about two wheels that’s for sure," McClendon said of his son.

Blake Henning dominated the novice division.
“I've be running motorcycles since I could remember," Henning said. "But this was my second time to do this. I think I've got a knack for it."

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