Who’s #NASCAR's Next?

The 2014 NASCAR Next class consists of: Back row, from left, Gray Gaulding,
Jesse Little, Ryan Gifford, Ryan Preece, Brandon McReynolds, Austin Hill and Erik Jones;
and front row, from left, Dylan Lupton, Kenzie Ruston, Cole Custer, Ben Rhodes
and Ruben Garcia Jr. (Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)

The 12 drivers have already won 20 times, and hold the honors as the youngest winners in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, as well as youngest NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion and highest finishing female in NASCAR K&N Pro Series history. The list also includes the 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West Sunoco Rookies of the Year.

The team was selected through an evaluation process that included input from industry executives and veteran racers. Drivers must be between the ages of 15-25, have tangible and expressed goals in eventual competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and possess the potential to realize that goal.

Additionally, each driver in NASCAR Next must be actively competing in a NASCAR touring or weekly series – NASCAR K&N Pro Series East or West, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1, NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series or NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competitors also are eligible provided they are not slated to run a full season in their respective series.

The NASCAR Next members for 2014-15 are:

1. Cole Custer (16 years old, Ladera Ranch, Calif., Twitter: @colecuster00) – A two-time winner in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2013, he opened the K&N Pro Series West season this year with a victory from the pole in Phoenix.
   
2. Rubén García Jr. (18, Naucalpan, Mexico, @rubengarcia4) – The 2012 NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series Rookie of the Year continues to improve and finished fourth in the standings last season. Earlier this season, he made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut.
   
3. Gray Gaulding (16, Colonial Heights, Va., @graygaulding) – Holds the mark for youngest pole winner in both the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West, and recorded his first series win at Phoenix last fall.
   
4. Ryan Gifford (25, Winchester, Tenn., @ryangifford2) – The NASCAR Drive For Diversity driver scored the 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East win at Richmond and posted an impressive top-10 finish in his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut last August in Iowa.
   
5. Austin Hill (20, Winston, Ga., @hillbroracing) – The winner at last year’s K&N East race at Dover, he has two top-five finishes in this season’s four races.
   
6. Erik Jones (17, Byron, Mich., @erik_jones) – Made his mark on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series last November in Phoenix by becoming the youngest winner in series history.
   
7. Jesse Little (17, Sherrills Ford, N.C., @jesselittle97) – The 2013 Sunoco Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. He made his first series start just 11 days after turning 15 in 2012.
   
8. Dylan Lupton (20, Wilton, Calif., @LuptonDylan) – The 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Sunoco Rookie of the Year picked up his first series victory at Evergreen Speedway in August.
   
9. Brandon McReynolds (23, Mooresville, N.C., @Bmcreynolds28) – With starts in four different NASCAR series, he is chasing the championship in the K&N Pro Series West, where he is second in points.
   
10. Ryan Preece (23, Berlin, Conn., @RyanPreece16) – He became the youngest champion in the history of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour last season while balancing a 43-race schedule in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (finished fourth in the national standings) and making his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut.
    
11. Ben Rhodes (17, Louisville, Ky., @benrhodes) – The current points leader in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East with three poles in four races, and a win at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway. He scored an impressive top-10 finish in his NASCAR Camping World Truck series debut at Martinsville.
    
12. Kenzie Ruston (22, El Reno, Okla., @KenzieRuston) – She finished sixth in last season’s K&N Pro Series East season standings and has top 10 finishes this season at New Smyrna and Daytona. She has the highest finish – both in a race and in the championship standings – for a female driver in K&N Pro Series East history.

Ruston Joins Ben Kennedy Racing

Okla. driver tabbed for run at K&N Pro East championship

Kenzie Ruston will drive the No. 96 Ben Kennedy Racing Chevrolet
in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series in 2014. (Getty Image for NASCAR)

Ben Kennedy is headed to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. But Ben Kennedy Racing isn't going anywhere.

The 21-year-old rising star and great-grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. announced Thursday the team is staying in its shop in Daytona Beach and will field a team in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.

At Thursday's press conference, the team also announced they have tapped 22-year-old Kenzie Ruston to drive the No. 96 Ben Kennedy Racing Chevrolet fulltime in 2014.

"Getting an opportunity in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with Turner Scott Motorsports was due in large part to the time and hard work the team at Ben Kennedy Racing put in over the last two years," said Kennedy. "To be able to maintain the team here in Daytona and put another talented young driver in the seat is a really cool deal."

Ruston, like Kennedy, was a member of the NASCAR Next program last year. The industry initiative, in its third year, is designed to spotlight the sport's rising stars. The pool of talent that has been identified by the program includes Kyle Larson, Darrell Wallace Jr., Chase Elliott and Dylan Kwasniewski.

As a rookie in 2013, Ruston finished sixth in the points standings in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. The El Reno, Okla., native had four top fives, including a third-place finish at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway in April.

Her points standing and her run at Greenville were both records as the highest finishes for a female in series history.

"Jumping into the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East last year was a great experience and I really learned a lot in my first year," said Ruston. "Having competed against Ben and his team, I've seen firsthand the dedication and level of excellence they bring to the track.

"I saw how they were really able to help Ben grow in the series from one year to the next, and get him prepared for the national series. I'm really looking forward to getting into that car in New Smyrna and Daytona in February."

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season kicks off Sunday, Feb. 16 at New Smyrna Speedway. Two days later, the series will compete on the 0.4-mile oval on the backstretch at Daytona International Speedway in the UNOH Battle At The Beach.

The series also makes another in-state visit Friday, June 13 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola. Kennedy won that race last year.

Kennedy, a senior at the University of Florida, drove three full seasons in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and progressed from 13th to ninth to fourth in the points. He picked up his first two series wins last year, first at Five Flags and then another at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. He started five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races in 2013, including a fourth-place finish in October at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

Ben Kennedy and Kenzie Ruston at Thursday's announcement that Ruston
will pilot the No. 96 in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2014.  (NASCAR)

The NASCAR Foundation Presents $100,000 Check To Local Speediatrics Unit

2nd Annual Championship Taste Event Gives Back To Homestead Community

 

NASCAR drivers, fans and friends gathered at Homestead-Miami Speedway
to enjoy a unique dining experience while raising money for the Speediatrics
unit at Homestead Hospital, culminating with a $100,000 check presentation.

Building on its commitment to support children’s health care in the South Miami-Dade area, The NASCAR Foundation hosted its second annual Championship Taste event Thursday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

NASCAR drivers, fans and friends gathered at Homestead-Miami Speedway to enjoy a unique dining experience while raising money for the Speediatrics unit at Homestead Hospital, culminating with a $100,000 check presentation. The donation ensures that Miami-area children will continue to receive premium care and treatment in a colorful and fun NASCAR-themed environment.

“We’re so thankful for the wonderful sponsors, restaurants, drivers and the NASCAR fans and family who made Championship Taste at Homestead-Miami Speedway a success,” The NASCAR Foundation Executive Director Lorene King said. “We’re especially grateful for the partnership with the Pineapple Ladies of the Homestead Hospital Foundation who rallied the local community in support of the event. The best part about this event is that all funds raised stay local and ensure that Speediatrics will continue its important work in South Florida.”

Located at Homestead Hospital, the Speediatrics unit is dedicated to caring for the local community’s children. The NASCAR-themed, eight-bed unit includes a pediatric trauma room where the most severely ill or injured children can be stabilized, and is staffed by highly experienced pediatric emergency physicians and skilled nurses. Featuring colorful artwork and décor designed to ease anxiety and lift the spirits of young patients, Speediatrics has provided hope and comfort to thousands of children and their families.

“Last year, the Betty Jane France Children's Emergency Center treated more than 25,000 young patients,” Homestead Hospital CEO Bill Duquette said. “Through the generosity of The NASCAR Foundation, children are able to receive the care they need in a colorful, cheerful and calming environment."

 

This year’s event featured 23 South Florida restaurants showcasing their best menu items of 2013, including Celebrity Chef Adrianne Calvo’s restaurant, Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Wine Bar. Participants had the opportunity to vote on their favorite restaurants from the night. Honors went to: Marker 88 (Overall Fan Favorite), Schnebly Redlands Winery (Best Drink), Ocean Reef (Bestf Appetizer), Smoke and Spice (Best Entrée) and Misha’s Cupcakes (Best Dessert).

In one of the evening’s highlights, Chef Adrianne and NASCAR national series drivers Aric Almirola, David Ragan, Johanna Long and Jennifer Jo Cobb, along with NASCAR Next drivers Gray Gaulding, Ryan Gifford, Ben Kennedy and Kenzie Ruston, squared off in a cooking contest. The group followed a recipe to create a spicy pinto beans and smoked sausage dish with all meats donated by Eckrich. The contest paired seasoned veterans with rising stars on a playing field other than a race track. The winners of this annual contest were Aric Almirola and Ben Kennedy, besting last year’s winner Johanna Long.

Other notables in attendance included NASCAR President and The NASCAR Foundation Vice Chairman Mike Helton, foundation board member and former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Rusty Wallace, Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matthew Becherer, ESPN analyst and former three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion crew chief Ray Evernham, Miss Sprint Cups Kim Coon and Brooke Werner and the reigning Miss Florida Myrrhanda Jones.

In January, The NASCAR Foundation will host the Taste of the 24, a similar event that kicks off the Rolex 24 At Daytona weekend with fabulous music, great food and non-stop racing. The Taste of 24 will benefit The NASCAR Foundation Scholarship Program for graduating high school seniors in Volusia County.