Kenny Francis
Encyclopedia
Kenny Francis is an American
NASCAR
crew chief. He began his racing career at the age of eight, by racing go-karts. He continued to drive the race car until 1996 when he began working on engines for Butch Mock Motorsports. Six years later, Francis became a crew chief for the first time while he was employed at Robert Yates Racing. He is currently employed at Red Bull Racing Team as the crew chief for the 4 Sprint Cup Series car, driven by Kasey Kahne
.
, Francis began racing go-karts at the age of eight. While racing the go-karts, he managed to win a state championship. Afterward, Francis moved to regional and national circuits. During the late 1980s, he began racing late model stock cars, while being educated about mechanical engineering at the University of Florida
. At the time, he was also working at a local power company, as well as traveling to tracks further away in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
, and South Boston, Virginia
.
Busch Series (now Nationwide Series). While working with the team, he learned about fabrication, and the set ups of the cars. Two years later, Francis moved to North Carolina
. Also in 1998, he began working with Rick Mast
at Butch Mock Motorsports. After one year working with the team, Francis was hired at Robert Yates Racing to work on Dale Jarret's team. During the season, his team won four races, as well as the 1999 Winston Cup Series (now Sprint Cup Series) championship. He remained with the team until the end of the 2000 season, when he was offered to become the team engineer at Evernham Motorsports for Bill Elliott
. For the 2003 season, he was promoted and became the crew chief and team director for Jeremy Mayfield
. By the 2004 season, Francis helped the team to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup in its first year and win a race. In 2005, his team made the Chase, as well as winning one more race.
During the following season, he became the crew chief for Kasey Kahne
, which led to two consecutive fourth place finishes, and a win at Atlanta Motor Speedway
in the spring. At the end of the season, his team was able to record six wins, 12 top fives, 19 top tens, six pole positions, led 744 laps, and finished eighth in the standings. In 2007, Francis and Kahne failed to win a race, as George Gillett became part owner. During 2008
, Francis continued to work with Kahne, and won two races: the Sprint All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600
. Afterward, Richard Petty
became partial owner of the team, renaming it to Richard Petty Motorsports. During the season, they recorded two wins, seven top fives and finished tenth in points. He also recorded 27 lead lap finishes, the most throughout the season. In the 2010
, they won the second Gatorade Duel race
. Also during the season, Kahne decided to leave Richard Petty Motorsports to race for Red Bull Racing Team. Francis decided to follow Kahne, after recording ten wins, 30 top fives and 12 pole positions in six seasons. For the 2012 season, Francis announced that he, along with Kahne, would move to Hendrick Motorsports
.
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...
crew chief. He began his racing career at the age of eight, by racing go-karts. He continued to drive the race car until 1996 when he began working on engines for Butch Mock Motorsports. Six years later, Francis became a crew chief for the first time while he was employed at Robert Yates Racing. He is currently employed at Red Bull Racing Team as the crew chief for the 4 Sprint Cup Series car, driven by Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kenneth Kahne is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #5 Farmers Insurance Group Chevrolet Impala for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series....
.
Early life
Born on December 1, 1969 in Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, Francis began racing go-karts at the age of eight. While racing the go-karts, he managed to win a state championship. Afterward, Francis moved to regional and national circuits. During the late 1980s, he began racing late model stock cars, while being educated about mechanical engineering at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
. At the time, he was also working at a local power company, as well as traveling to tracks further away in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach is a coastal city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is situated on the center of a large and continuous stretch of beach known as the Grand Strand in northeastern South Carolina. It is considered to be a major tourist destination in the...
, and South Boston, Virginia
South Boston, Virginia
South Boston is a town in Halifax County, Virginia, United States. The population was 8,142 at the 2010 census.- History :On December 8, 1796, the General Assembly authorized eight commissioners to establish at Boyd's Ferry on the south side of the Dan River the town of South Boston, named for...
.
NASCAR career
In 1996, Francis stopped driving the car, and began working on the engines for a local team racing in the NASCARNASCAR
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...
Busch Series (now Nationwide Series). While working with the team, he learned about fabrication, and the set ups of the cars. Two years later, Francis moved to 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...
. Also in 1998, he began working with Rick Mast
Rick Mast
Rick Mast is a former NASCAR driver. He competed in both the Winston Cup and Busch Series before retiring in 2002...
at Butch Mock Motorsports. After one year working with the team, Francis was hired at Robert Yates Racing to work on Dale Jarret's team. During the season, his team won four races, as well as the 1999 Winston Cup Series (now Sprint Cup Series) championship. He remained with the team until the end of the 2000 season, when he was offered to become the team engineer at Evernham Motorsports for Bill Elliott
Bill Elliott
William Clyde "Bill" Elliott , also known as Awesome Bill from Dawsonville or Million Dollar Bill, is a part-time driver and former champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Elliott was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on August 15, 2007. He won the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup...
. For the 2003 season, he was promoted and became the crew chief and team director for Jeremy Mayfield
Jeremy Mayfield
Jeremy Allen Mayfield is a former NASCAR driver who last competed in 2009 due to legal troubles and an indefinite suspension by NASCAR. Prior to 2009, Mayfield drove cars for the Sadler Brothers, T.W. Taylor, Cale Yarborough, Michael Kranefuss, Roger Penske, Ray Evernham, Bill Davis, and Gene Haas...
. By the 2004 season, Francis helped the team to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup in its first year and win a race. In 2005, his team made the Chase, as well as winning one more race.
During the following season, he became the crew chief for Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kenneth Kahne is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #5 Farmers Insurance Group Chevrolet Impala for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series....
, which led to two consecutive fourth place finishes, and a win at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
in the spring. At the end of the season, his team was able to record six wins, 12 top fives, 19 top tens, six pole positions, led 744 laps, and finished eighth in the standings. In 2007, Francis and Kahne failed to win a race, as George Gillett became part owner. During 2008
2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
The 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season began on February 9, 2008 at Daytona International Speedway with the Budweiser Shootout, followed by pole qualifying on Sunday, February 10, 2008 for the 50th Daytona 500 on February 17...
, Francis continued to work with Kahne, and won two races: the Sprint All-Star Race and 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...
. Afterward, Richard Petty
Richard Petty
Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
became partial owner of the team, renaming it to Richard Petty Motorsports. During the season, they recorded two wins, seven top fives and finished tenth in points. He also recorded 27 lead lap finishes, the most throughout the season. In the 2010
2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season was the 62nd season of professional stock car racing in the United States. Beginning at Daytona International Speedway, the season included 36 races and two exhibition races. The season concluded with the 2010 Ford 400 at Homestead Miami Speedway...
, they won the second Gatorade Duel race
2010 Gatorade Duels
The 2010 Gatorade Duels were two qualifying races for the 2010 Daytona 500 held on February 11, 2010 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The races determined the field for the race on Sunday, February 14, 2010. Prior to the Duels, only two drivers had their starting...
. Also during the season, Kahne decided to leave Richard Petty Motorsports to race for Red Bull Racing Team. Francis decided to follow Kahne, after recording ten wins, 30 top fives and 12 pole positions in six seasons. For the 2012 season, Francis announced that he, along with Kahne, would move to Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
.