Jeff Hensley
Encyclopedia
Jeff Hensley is a former NASCAR
driver. Currently, he is the crew chief
for Nelson Piquet, Jr., who drives for Kevin Harvick Incorporated
in the Camping World Truck Series. He most recently served as the Director of Competition for Bobby Hamilton Racing-Virginia.
Hensley began racing at the age of eighteen, racing in various short tracks in Virginia
and North Carolina
. In 1982, he moved to the newly formed Busch Grand National Series, competing in the #63 for his family-owned team. In his first season of competition, he ran ten races, and had five top-ten finishes. His abbreviated schedule landed him twentieth in points. The following season, he ran twenty-eight of the schedule thirty-five races, and had nine top-ten finishes, and improved to tenth in standings.
He had two less top-tens in 1984, but had a career-best eighth-place finish in points. After he dropped to three top-tens in 1985, in the #2 Flute's Sheetmetal car, he retired and became the crew chief for his family's #63 car. He worked with Jimmy Hensley
, Larry Pollard, and Mike Swaim over the next three years before Chuck Bown
became the new driver of the 63 in 1989. They won the championship together in 1990, earning Hensley Mechanic of the Year honors. They continued to work together until the 1994 season, when Bown left and was replaced by his brother Jim
. Hensley continued working for the team until it was sold in 2001.
Following the sale, he worked for Arrington Manufacturers for three years before returning to the track when he was hired by Bill Davis Racing
in 2004 to serve as the crew chief for Bill Lester
's #22 truck. The following season, he was reassigned to the #5 of Mike Skinner
, where he stayed for two and a half seasons. He and Skinner won eight races and finished second in points during the 2007 season. In June 2008, he left BDR for personal reasons, before he was hired at Hamilton Racing.
Hensley then moved to Red Horse Racing
for 2009 and 2010 to work with Timothy Peters
. The duo won in both years with victories at Martinsville and Daytona. Hensley left RHR after 2010 to work for Kevin Harvick Incorporated
. Though he initially served as Ron Hornaday
's crew chief, he moved to crew chief for Nelson Piquet, Jr. and the #8 truck
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...
driver. Currently, he is the crew chief
Pit stop
In motorsports, a pit stop is where a racing vehicle stops in the pits during a race for refuelling, new tires, repairs, mechanical adjustments, a driver change, or any combination of the above...
for Nelson Piquet, Jr., who drives for Kevin Harvick Incorporated
Kevin Harvick Incorporated
Kevin Harvick Incorporated was a NASCAR team owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick and his wife DeLana, who herself is the daughter of a former Busch Series driver, John Linville...
in the Camping World Truck Series. He most recently served as the Director of Competition for Bobby Hamilton Racing-Virginia.
Hensley began racing at the age of eighteen, racing in various short tracks in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. In 1982, he moved to the newly formed Busch Grand National Series, competing in the #63 for his family-owned team. In his first season of competition, he ran ten races, and had five top-ten finishes. His abbreviated schedule landed him twentieth in points. The following season, he ran twenty-eight of the schedule thirty-five races, and had nine top-ten finishes, and improved to tenth in standings.
He had two less top-tens in 1984, but had a career-best eighth-place finish in points. After he dropped to three top-tens in 1985, in the #2 Flute's Sheetmetal car, he retired and became the crew chief for his family's #63 car. He worked with Jimmy Hensley
Jimmy Hensley
Jimmy Hensley is a former NASCAR driver. With a career spanning 27 seasons in all three of NASCAR's elite divisions, Hensley may be best remembered for his Rookie of the Year award won in 1992, his 15th season in the series, and for his nine career Busch Series wins. He spent most of his career...
, Larry Pollard, and Mike Swaim over the next three years before Chuck Bown
Chuck Bown
Richard Charles Bown, Jr. is a former NASCAR champion. His last ride came in 1999. He currently lives with his wife in Asheboro, North Carolina. He is the brother of former fellow NASCAR competitor Jim Bown...
became the new driver of the 63 in 1989. They won the championship together in 1990, earning Hensley Mechanic of the Year honors. They continued to work together until the 1994 season, when Bown left and was replaced by his brother Jim
Jim Bown
Jim Bown is a former NASCAR driver. He has run a total of 23 Winston Cup races. He scored one top-ten result, a tenth place finish at Riverside International Raceway in 1982. In the NASCAR Busch Series , he competed in 122 races, with four top-fives and one pole...
. Hensley continued working for the team until it was sold in 2001.
Following the sale, he worked for Arrington Manufacturers for three years before returning to the track when he was hired by Bill Davis Racing
Bill Davis Racing
Bill Davis Racing was a racing team that participated in all three of NASCAR's top divisions until 2009.The team had run Toyota-branded stock cars and trucks in both the Camping World Truck Series and Sprint Cup Series since 2007. Dodge, Ford, and Pontiac previously backed the team...
in 2004 to serve as the crew chief for Bill Lester
Bill Lester
William Alexander Lester III is a racing driver who competes in the Grand Touring category in the Rolex Sports Car Series for Autohaus Motorsports. In 1984, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in EECS from the University of California, Berkeley...
's #22 truck. The following season, he was reassigned to the #5 of Mike Skinner
Mike Skinner (NASCAR)
Mike Skinner is an American driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He is the primary driver of the #60 Big Red Soda Toyota Camry for Germain Racing. He is the father of former NASCAR drivers Jamie and Dustin Skinner...
, where he stayed for two and a half seasons. He and Skinner won eight races and finished second in points during the 2007 season. In June 2008, he left BDR for personal reasons, before he was hired at Hamilton Racing.
Hensley then moved to Red Horse Racing
Red Horse Racing
Red Horse Racing is an American racing team based in Mooresville, North Carolina. It is co-owned by business executive Tom DeLoach and NASCAR on Fox broadcaster Jeff Hammond...
for 2009 and 2010 to work with Timothy Peters
Timothy Peters
Timothy Peters is an American NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 17 K&N Engineering, Inc. Toyota for Red Horse Racing. He is a former member of the Bobby Hamilton Racing and Richard Childress Racing driver development programs.-Racing career:He began his...
. The duo won in both years with victories at Martinsville and Daytona. Hensley left RHR after 2010 to work for Kevin Harvick Incorporated
Kevin Harvick Incorporated
Kevin Harvick Incorporated was a NASCAR team owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick and his wife DeLana, who herself is the daughter of a former Busch Series driver, John Linville...
. Though he initially served as Ron Hornaday
Ron Hornaday
Ronald Hornaday, Jr. is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver. He is the father of former NASCAR driver Ronnie Hornaday, and son of the late Ron Hornaday, Sr., a two-time Winston West Champion. Adding on to the family legacy, Ron is a four-time champion in the Truck Series, his most recent...
's crew chief, he moved to crew chief for Nelson Piquet, Jr. and the #8 truck