Gaunt Brothers Racing adds veteran crew chief for Talladega
Mike Ford joins team to prepare the No. 96 Camry for GEICO 500 in second Cup attempt for Kennington.
Photo by: Motorsport.com / ASP Inc.
As announced on Wednesday, D.J. Kennington and Gaunt Brothers Racing will reunite for the upcoming Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, May 7.
The team will have veteran leadership calling shots from the pit box as Mike Ford has joined forces with the team for its second race this season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Ford, whose resume includes working with Bill Elliott Racing, Robert Yates Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing, has been a part of 25 wins at the Cup level in his career.
“We're thrilled to bring D.J. back into the fold for Talladega," said Gaunt. “He did everything asked of him in February. With the addition of Mike Ford, we hope to build on what we accomplished in Daytona."
In February, Kennington, became the first Canadian since Trevor Boys in 1988 to compete in the Daytona 500. The St. Thomas, Ontario native started 28th in GBR's No. 96 Toyota Camry before recording a 36th-place finish after he was collected a multi-car crash in the race while running in the top 15 at the time.
Kennington finished 14th in his Can-Am Duel qualifying race, earning the first Cup Series start for GBR and owner Marty Gaunt.
Kennington, a 19-time race winner and two-time champion in the NASCAR Pinty's Series, has made two Cup starts, including his run in the Daytona 500. He feels the experience from Daytona in February will help him next month in his second-career restrictor plate start.
“Talladega weekend can't get here fast enough," said Kennington. “I learned a lot during our Duel race and in the 500. I felt like I was finally getting the hang of drafting before the accident took us out. The car was great in the draft and I know we can apply a lot of what we learned at Daytona to Talladega."
Prior to Talladega, Kensington will participate in a pre-season test day at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario for his NASCAR Pinty’s Series team on Wednesday. He’ll fly directly to Alabama for his second Cup race of the season.
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