Ben Leslie
Encyclopedia
Ben Leslie is an American
auto mechanic. He currently serves as the crew chief
of the #6 Ford Fusion fielded by Roush Fenway Racing in the NASCAR
Nationwide Series. He is the younger brother of former Auto Racing Club of America champion and NASCAR driver Tracy Leslie
.
Leslie joined NASCAR in 1994 as a mechanic and tire changer on Ted Musgrave
's car owned by Roush Racing
. Later he would go on to hold the same position on Mark Martin
's car. In 1998, he moved to Roush's new team, the #26 Cheerios
Ford driven by Johnny Benson
. Originally serving as the team's car chief, he was promoted to interim crew chief midway through the season and had a pair of ninth-place finishes with Benson. After spending the first part of the 1999 season with Benson, he became the car chief of Matt Kenseth
's car, and the team won Rookie of the Year honors in 2000.
After several races in 2001, Leslie was moved to the crew chief position of the #97 team driven by rookie Kurt Busch
. Leslie and Busch won the pole at the Mountain Dew Southern 500 and had five top-ten finishes. At the end of the season, he was moved again to Mark Martin's team. They won the Coca-Cola 600
but lost the championship by 38 points. He was moved again at the end of the season to the #21 Motorcraft
/Wood Brothers Racing
Ford driven by Ricky Rudd
, but the team struggled with only five top-tens and dropped to twenty-third in points. After winning one pole and garnering two top-ten finishes with Rudd in 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, Leslie left the Wood Brothers to take a position as field director for Ford Racing.
Leslie stayed with Ford for several years before returning to pit road as crew chief of the #28 Yates Racing
Ford driven by Travis Kvapil
. They had two top-twenty finishes but the team was shut down after five races due to a lack of sponsorship. Afterwards, he joined Yates' affiliate team, Hall of Fame Racing as crew chief for Bobby Labonte
and eventually Erik Darnell
for the rest of the season. In 2010 he moved to Roush Fenway's #6 team to be crew chief for rookie Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
auto mechanic. He currently serves as the crew chief
Crew chief
Crew chief may refer to:*Crew chief , the head person on a race team who directs both the driver and pit crew*Crew chief , Part of the Ford Work Solutions Package see Ford Sync...
of the #6 Ford Fusion fielded by Roush Fenway Racing in the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Nationwide Series. He is the younger brother of former Auto Racing Club of America champion and NASCAR driver Tracy Leslie
Tracy Leslie
Tracy Leslie is an American professional stock car racer. He currently races in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, against his son, Billy. He also raced in the NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series.- Early career :...
.
Leslie joined NASCAR in 1994 as a mechanic and tire changer on Ted Musgrave
Ted Musgrave
Theodore Musgrave is an American race car driver.-Pre-NASCAR:Musgrave's father, Elmer, was a famous short-track racer in the Midwest who raced for over 25 years at Soldier Field, O'Hare, Waukegan, and Wilmot, Wisconsin before moving into asphalt late models in the American Speed Association and...
's car owned by Roush Racing
Roush Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is a racing team competing in NASCAR racing. As one of NASCAR's largest premier racing teams, Roush runs teams in the Sprint and Nationwide Series, and formerly in the Camping World Truck Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series.Roush first entered NASCAR competition in 1988, but had...
. Later he would go on to hold the same position on Mark Martin
Mark Martin
Mark Martin may refer to:* Mark Martin , American racecar driver* Mark Martin , American cartoonist* Mark Martin , American judge* Mark Martin , British murderer...
's car. In 1998, he moved to Roush's new team, the #26 Cheerios
Cheerios
Cheerios is a brand of breakfast cereal by General Mills introduced on May 1, 1941 as the first oat-based, ready-to-eat cold cereal. Originally named CheeriOats, the name was changed to Cheerios in 1945 because of a trade name dispute with Quaker Oats. The name fit the "O" shape of the cereal pieces...
Ford driven by Johnny Benson
Johnny Benson
Jonathan Benson, Jr. is an American NASCAR driver and the son of former Michigan modified driver John Benson, Sr...
. Originally serving as the team's car chief, he was promoted to interim crew chief midway through the season and had a pair of ninth-place finishes with Benson. After spending the first part of the 1999 season with Benson, he became the car chief of Matt Kenseth
Matt Kenseth
Matthew Roy "Matt" Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Kenseth currently drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
's car, and the team won Rookie of the Year honors in 2000.
After several races in 2001, Leslie was moved to the crew chief position of the #97 team driven by rookie Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch
Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...
. Leslie and Busch won the pole at the Mountain Dew Southern 500 and had five top-ten finishes. At the end of the season, he was moved again to Mark Martin's team. They won the Coca-Cola 600
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
but lost the championship by 38 points. He was moved again at the end of the season to the #21 Motorcraft
Motorcraft
Motorcraft is an auto parts brand of Ford Motor Company.-History:The Ford Motor Company launched this auto parts division in 1972 to provide replacement parts and original equipment parts. This brand replaced Autolite as Ford's official parts brand. Autolite is still a brand name in use today, but...
/Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing is an American auto racing team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Camping World Truck Series. The team was formed in 1950 by the sons of Walter and Ada Wood, thus the Wood Brothers...
Ford driven by Ricky Rudd
Ricky Rudd
Ricky Rudd is a former American NASCAR driver. He is the uncle of actor Skeet Ulrich and Nationwide Series driver Jason Rudd. Rudd is known as the "Iron Man" of NASCAR; holding the record for most consecutive starts in NASCAR racing. At the conclusion of the 2005 season, Rudd had made 788...
, but the team struggled with only five top-tens and dropped to twenty-third in points. After winning one pole and garnering two top-ten finishes with Rudd in 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, Leslie left the Wood Brothers to take a position as field director for Ford Racing.
Leslie stayed with Ford for several years before returning to pit road as crew chief of the #28 Yates Racing
Yates Racing
Yates Racing was an American stock car racing racing team that competed in NASCAR until the 2009 season when it merged with Richard Petty Motorsports. Previously known as Robert Yates Racing, the team was owned by Doug Yates, who has officially owned the team since his father Robert's retirement on...
Ford driven by Travis Kvapil
Travis Kvapil
Travis Kvapil is an American race car driver. He currently drives for Front Row Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.-Early career:...
. They had two top-twenty finishes but the team was shut down after five races due to a lack of sponsorship. Afterwards, he joined Yates' affiliate team, Hall of Fame Racing as crew chief for Bobby Labonte
Bobby Labonte
Robert Alan "Bobby" Labonte is an American race car driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He currently drives the #47 Kroger/Clorox/Kimberly-Clark/Kingsford/Reese Towpower Hitches Toyota Camry for JTG Daugherty Racing. He currently resides in Trinity, North Carolina. He is married to his wife...
and eventually Erik Darnell
Erik Darnell
Erik Darnell is an American stock car racing driver, c He is the grandson of former USAC and NASCAR driver Bay Darnell, who also started three NASCAR races for Holman Moody...
for the rest of the season. In 2010 he moved to Roush Fenway's #6 team to be crew chief for rookie Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. is an American NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #6 Blackwell Angus Beef Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing in the Nationwide Series. Stenhouse was the 2010 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year and the 2011 Nationwide Series champion.-Career:Stenhouse began racing stock...
.