Jimmy Kitchens
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Kitchens, born April 26, 1962 in Hueytown, Alabama
, is a former American
NASCAR
driver. He participated in both the Busch Series
, as well as the Craftsman Truck Series
. In 1998, he became part of the famed Alabama Gang
. He is currently employed at Stewart Haas Racing as Ryan Newman
's spotter
.
. After qualifying his No. 42 Dodge Motorsports Chevrolet 25th on the grid, Kitchens led three laps, but was later involved in a accident, prompting him to finish 28th.
in 1996, where he drove the #50 UAW Ford. He started 38th, but once again he got caught up in an early crash and finished 41st.
Kitchens made another start in 1998, when he piloted the #50 Washington-Irving Motorsports Chevy at Pikes Peak
. Kitchens finished the race 32nd after his carburetor
broke.
In 1999, Kitchens was hired to drive the #22 Air Jamaica Vacations Chevy in a limited schedule for Carroll Racing. Kitchens made six starts for the team. In the third race, at Nashville Speedway USA, Kitchens finished the race in 32nd, his first career race completed. Then, in the next start at Bristol
, Kitchens scored a 29th, which ended up being his best finish of the season. After two more races, Kitchens was released, as the team cited that Kitchens had crashed out of half the races.
Kitchens disappeared from the Busch Series for three years, before resurfacing in 2002. Splitting his time between Moy Racing
and Means Racing
, Kitchens ran the most races of his career up to that point, as he made fourteen races. At Talladega
, he avoided a big crash and then finished the race in 7th position, his first and only career top-10. At the next restrictor place race at Daytona
, he came home with a 17th place finish. He finished 43rd in points at the end of the season.
Kitchens added a handful of starts in 2003, but only finished one race with at Chicagoland
, where he finished 24th.
Kitchens made the most starts of his career in 2004 in NASCAR Busch Series
, sixteen. He began the year running for Davis Motorsports. In four starts for that team, his best finish was a 33rd at Daytona. Then, Kitchens made several starts Jay Robinson Racing
where he was 32nd at Talladega and 43rd at Nazareth Speedway
. The other ten starts came for Moy Racing. Kitchens finished 27th three times, with the best run coming at Michigan, where he finished on the lead lap, and finished 43rd again.
Kitchens only made one start in 2005 at Talladega. Driving for Jay Robinson, Kitchens qualified the #28 Ford in 42nd place, but finished fifteenth.
Hueytown, Alabama
Hueytown is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 16,105.It was the home of the legendary NASCAR Alabama Gang...
, is a former American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
driver. He participated in both the Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
, as well as the Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
. In 1998, he became part of the famed Alabama Gang
Alabama Gang
The Alabama Gang was the nickname for a group of NASCAR drivers who set up shop and operated out of Hueytown, Alabama, near Birmingham, Alabama. In the late 1950s, young auto racer Bobby Allison left Miami, Florida, looking for an area that had more opportunities to race. He discovered central...
. He is currently employed at Stewart Haas Racing as Ryan Newman
Ryan Newman
Ryan Joseph Newman is a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He drives the #39 United States Army/Tornados/Haas Automation Chevrolet Impala for Stewart Haas Racing under crew chief Tony Gibson. Newman graduated from Purdue University in 2001 with a B.S. in vehicle structure engineering...
's spotter
Spotter (auto racing)
A spotter in auto racing is a trained team member whose job is to relay information to their driver, keeping him/her alert of what is occurring on the track. They are typically positioned high above the track, atop one of the grandstands, or other support buildings, with a bird's eye view of the...
.
Craftsman Truck Series
In 2000, Kitchens made his first and only career start in theCraftsman Truck Series at Daytona International SpeedwayDaytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
. After qualifying his No. 42 Dodge Motorsports Chevrolet 25th on the grid, Kitchens led three laps, but was later involved in a accident, prompting him to finish 28th.
Busch Series
Kitchens made his series debut in 1994, driving the #82 Sports World Ford at IRP. Kitchens started 26th, but an early accident sidetracked his run to a 27th place finish. Kitchens next run at RockinghamNorth Carolina Speedway
Rockingham Speedway, formerly North Carolina Motor Speedway and later North Carolina Speedway is a racetrack located near Rockingham, North Carolina...
in 1996, where he drove the #50 UAW Ford. He started 38th, but once again he got caught up in an early crash and finished 41st.
Kitchens made another start in 1998, when he piloted the #50 Washington-Irving Motorsports Chevy at Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak International Raceway
Pikes Peak International Raceway, also known as PPIR, is a participant focused racetrack located in Fountain, Colorado, south of Colorado Springs and north of Pueblo...
. Kitchens finished the race 32nd after his carburetor
Carburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
broke.
In 1999, Kitchens was hired to drive the #22 Air Jamaica Vacations Chevy in a limited schedule for Carroll Racing. Kitchens made six starts for the team. In the third race, at Nashville Speedway USA, Kitchens finished the race in 32nd, his first career race completed. Then, in the next start at Bristol
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
, Kitchens scored a 29th, which ended up being his best finish of the season. After two more races, Kitchens was released, as the team cited that Kitchens had crashed out of half the races.
Kitchens disappeared from the Busch Series for three years, before resurfacing in 2002. Splitting his time between Moy Racing
Moy Racing
Moy Racing was an auto racing team owned by former Ford Motor Company employee Joseph Reilly which fielded entries in the NASCAR Busch Series. Drivers who piloted the Moy Racing Ford included Jimmy Kitchens, Andy Kirby, Carl Long , Bruce Bechtel, Dana White, Brad Teague, Ed Berrier, Donnie...
and Means Racing
Means Racing
Means Racing is a NASCAR Nationwide Series team. It is owned by former driver Jimmy Means. The team primarily runs without sponsorship, and fields the #52 Chevrolet Impala.-Busch/Nationwide Series:...
, Kitchens ran the most races of his career up to that point, as he made fourteen races. At Talladega
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
, he avoided a big crash and then finished the race in 7th position, his first and only career top-10. At the next restrictor place race at Daytona
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
, he came home with a 17th place finish. He finished 43rd in points at the end of the season.
Kitchens added a handful of starts in 2003, but only finished one race with at Chicagoland
Chicagoland Speedway
Chicagoland Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Joliet, Illinois, USA, southwest of Chicago. The speedway opened in 2001 and currently hosts NASCAR racing including the opening event in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Until 2011, the speedway also hosted the IZOD IndyCar Series, recording...
, where he finished 24th.
Kitchens made the most starts of his career in 2004 in NASCAR Busch Series
2004 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 2004 NASCAR Busch Series Season began on February 14 and ended on November 20. Martin Truex, Jr. of Chance 2 Motorsports won the championship.See Also: 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series-2004 Team chart:...
, sixteen. He began the year running for Davis Motorsports. In four starts for that team, his best finish was a 33rd at Daytona. Then, Kitchens made several starts Jay Robinson Racing
Jay Robinson Racing
Jay Robinson Racing is a racing team that competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Currently, they field the #28 MAXelence Chevrolet Impala for Derrike Cope. Formed in 1995, they moved to the Nationwide Series in 2000, where they have attempted both full-time and part-time schedules.- Car #28...
where he was 32nd at Talladega and 43rd at Nazareth Speedway
Nazareth Speedway
Nazareth Speedway was an auto racing track in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania which operated from 1910 to 2004. The track is often associated with local drivers Mario and Michael Andretti. It was associated with Frankie Schneider in its earlier dirt track history....
. The other ten starts came for Moy Racing. Kitchens finished 27th three times, with the best run coming at Michigan, where he finished on the lead lap, and finished 43rd again.
Kitchens only made one start in 2005 at Talladega. Driving for Jay Robinson, Kitchens qualified the #28 Ford in 42nd place, but finished fifteenth.