Get To Know NASCAR Executive Ben Kennedy

Episode #47 of "Kenny Conversation" is NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Development & Strategy Ben Kennedy!
#racing #kennywallace #nascar #benkennedy
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[@georgedreisch2662]

I’m 63. Old Motörhead. I miss the brand / team identity, the cars being relatable, and the individual brand / team innovations. Having become a spec series, and coming down to drivers, that I understand makes for tighter races and drama, but, I find it like watching IROC, without the novelty of drivers and individual strengths, from various disciplines. Times have changed. Guessin NASCAR and manufacturers are adapting to the global / societal narrative. Like music today, I ain’t gotta like it… This leaves me with the question, why am I here? Oh shit, I’m listening to Kenny Wallace!😜😘

[@NeedsLessWedge]

Greg Sacks, Rusty Wallace, Kyle Petty, Kenny Schrader, Michael Waltrip and some others were at a little dirt track off of a dirt road, in Leesville, SC a long long time ago, driving local guys late models. The track was called Thunder Valley Speedway. One of the Cup guys was driving Freddy Smith's L.A Gear 00 car. I don't remember who was driving the winning car , but the Cup guy driving the red and white Jack Pennington 01, ran by Close Racing, won the show. It was hand written flyers on grocery store patron cars, and was coined as the "Race of Champions". It was a pop up surprise show with not much Notice. They did autographs and it was a great time. And they were friendly and patient with a bunch of locals. It had ti been late 80s, early 90s. If i can find the photos from it, it would help determine.

[@DS-pf8mw]

I would like to add that I met you Kenny at a Busch race at Nashville Fairgrounds back in the day & you & Michael Waltrip were two of the nicest, friendliest guys I had the pleasure of meeting. Thanks for the memories.

[@user-vd9tg5lg2z]

I think that NASCAR needs to look at putting these "STARS" into local cars at local tracks for legends night. For example I remember NASCAR Drivers like Cale Yarborough, Bill Elliot, D.W. and others coming to Columbus Speedway and racing and signing autographs on Saturday Night and racing at Michigan on Sunday. Also these drivers have no personality and no work ethic like we saw from the Farm Kids like Earnhardt Sr. Sterling marlin or Mark Martin or the Wallaces.

[@tritontransport]

Yeah I remember we had that in the late 80s and early 90s the Saturday before the pocono race at a dirt track about an hour or so west of the track. Guys like Brett Bodine, Rusty Wallace and of course Jimmy Spencer because he was from the area. There were some other drivers who would also show up but I can’t recall them all. They’d come to selinsgrove and Port Royal. Now they all think they’re too good to be bothered by the common folks aka fans

[@tobylou8]

You know, NASCAR used to be "Of the people, for the people, and by the people". Just remove "people" and insert "Corporation(s)" and that's where we are. Fans really are an afterthought, imo. There's a direct connection between changing the points system and instituting the "Chase/playoff" system and NASCAR's slow decline. Everyone can see it but no one wants to talk about it because too much money is involved, AND some people would look really foolish because they've defended it since day 1. They're just waiting for all the old fans to die off so it will only be mentioned by historians.

[@bradwilliams4921]

4:49 "...put their kids behind the wheel..." I think that this is part of the reason that fan attendance and passion have declined. When I was growing up it appeared to me that drivers and teams earned their way to NASCAR. In my opinion it is no longer a working man's sport.

[@WindchargerPrime]

Someone had asked Kyle Busch last year how much John Hunter Nemechek would need to improve to be in a cup car. His answer, 3 million dollars and hes got a JGR ride. Its not about skill, its about money, its why Harrison Burton is in the 21 instead of Dibenedetto. Its why these Nepo babies like Austin Dillon, Austin Cindric and Harrison Burton Exist.

[@gracebythecross7869]

Awesome show brother Kenny, thanks for all you do for the sport. Thank God for social media. From Texas living in the Philippines 🤠👍

[@brianlecorchick]

Keep up the good work Ben!

[@mlt3820]

Mr. Kennedy was a Truck Series Driver when I heard his name first. Watched him go over a wall in to a fence driving hard. Say what you want. Idc, he is a leader of our sport and we need to support him. His Mom was on 60 Minutes and I understood that, and it's nice to see her Son succeed.

[@tobylou8]

IF NASCAR was on the wrong path, would they admit it?? So far they haven't. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@CQBlindHams]

The only thing to say, is. Thank you Kenny~

[@timmyamandaabigail]

Nascar could be great again with full stands and Nascar shirts and bumper stickers everywhere if a few changes were made.#1 stop catering to the networks and ignoring the fans with anti-whiteism and prejudice against the southeastern US. If we can wave a Mexican, BLM and rainbow flag we should be able to wave the Confederate flag.

[@tobylou8]

I feel your pain bro, but you're "whistlin' Dixie" ! LOL, see what I did there? The birthplace of NASCAR is an embarrassment to those in charge and they aim to get it as far away as possible from it's roots. The have to cater to these groups because they've driven the fans away. The only place to see full stands anymore is in a sim racing game!

[@polycube868]

NASCAR has been gentrified.

[@ErminT746]

Great stuff Kenny you give us great interviews! How about that Suburban? Sure it sold that same day !

[@jeridan_]

Who can I talk to if I'm in a position to revolutionize the sport?

[@jpross2]

Great job as usual!

[@jtbukkinbronko]

I really don’t care if people hate NASCAR and don’t care about the reasons they hate it. Let them. Opinions are like…”___ ____” everyone has one.

[@terryanglin4307]

Your competitors are beating the shit out of you.watch a race any NASCAR race from the 70's to 2000's it can be fixed quit listening to social media and run it like big bill and bill jr.

[@jeffreyrose7823]

I think Ben is doing a: Great job with His input in NASCAR, Yes the Street Race in Chicago was Awesome! 'SVG ' was Amazing Winning His 1st NASCAR Race,I go By Ben's Race Car Shop on the way to work Everyday, I get a Rush seeing 3 Haulers Parked The, His Late Model and the MX - Cup Cars being But There,Yes ,a Big, Watch the 500 from home State CT, Now living in Daytona, and being Able to go as much as I can the Speedway,Love your 'KZbin' Videos, Keep up the good work Kenny ❤

[@KennyWallace36]

Jeffrey!

[@GTSman72]

I would also like to add to my previous comments that there seems to be no long term loyalty to a team, seems like getting more money to drive for someone else, they move on. There once again the fan gets the short end of the stick, meaning a fan picks a driver to follow, buy his merchandise and after the driver moves on, the fans lose again.

[@davidcole6265]

It seems the general consensus of what was said here isn't good. I'm not sure he's as in touch with what the fans want, and fans aren't happy with the current trajectory of the sport. Why do you think that is, and for the "legacy fans", why do you think we feel like we're being ignored? They seem to be adamant on catering to this new fan and it feels like they're forgetting the one's that have kept this sport alive. Taking our traditional 3 day NASCAR weekends away is a big reason we're upset, and didn't hear it asked or discussed at all, that's a little disappointing.

[@johnhaas2523]

He isn't because Major age gap between him and the older fans. Ben is trying to grow the sport and look at new generation and not his grandfather's NASCAR and putting his own mark on the sport

[@rancepowell2377]

For me it’s the drivers they’re kids ….kids that’ll never bust knuckles build a car and crew chiefs the mystery and wonder is gone,I feel like

[@IOSALive]

cool video it was really good

[@P5YKHOTIK]

Why are the Toyotas the only ones allowed to place a manufacturers name on their front bumpers ❓

[@johnhaas2523]

Maybe Chevy and Ford just don't care to. Ford runs rear license plate

[@GTSman72]

Kenny great interview. I have read most of the comments and I see I am not the only one feels negatively about NASCAR., stuff I have been saying and thinking for a while. I didn’t like the COT, not a fan of stage racing, this current car mainly it having the one nut lug and the thin sidewall tires and the link on the rear suspension that breaks if they hit the wall. I am just about done watching because recently they penalized a driver for them fixing/replacing the loose wrap and a driver penalized for replacing a cracked rotor which are both safety issues and I am sure they were replaced with the same exact piece for each, this is BS. Another person made the observation that it’s like the cup series is like IROC, and I couldn’t agree more. I really don’t like the “plate” races for the fact a single car has to depend on “help” to pass cars, not being able to pull out and pass. NASCAR needs to read these comments, but they probably won’t and if they don’t listen, it will be to their demise. Keep up the great information coming.

[@timmyamandaabigail]

A big reason for Nascar decline is taking the car building skill and R&D testing away from the teams. Also it is supposed to be an American sport get rid of Toyota and get all the American makes represented in the field. Talks of possible Honda what about bringing in Buick, Cadillac, Chrysler, Dodge, Lincon, even Ram and Jeep in the truck series. Nascar is V8 but maybe even a series for Tesla to jump into.

[@NeedsLessWedge]

I got a 5.7L in my Yota, so...

[@mpf1947]

The new Camry isn't available in Japan, and the Tundra has never been officially available outside North America.

[@trnlft]

It's not in decline. Secondly, you can't just force companies to be in your sport. Come on man.

[@DS-pf8mw]

My first Winston Cup race was 1980 Talladega. I'm old school. Nascar built too many cookie cutter tracks with no banking. They need more short tracks. (Nashville Fairgrounds) etc. Put the lug nuts & bias tires back on the cars at least at some tracks.

[@user-ey7jo8cz1o]

The world is very different now. It seems like nobody is supposed to like anything anymore. I think in general, society is declining and not paying attention to God.

[@dougvinduska9593]

Before he got this gig he was interning with Larry Dennis Jr he had to watch out for Larrys wife she was a little bit of a handful.

[@wegottafishdude]

🤘🏻😎🤘🏻

[@oldblueshhrchannel1847]

Lefty Roundy round racing, that’s NASCAR. Even Richard Petty thinks so!! Ditch the road courses! Boring and pointless comes to mind. Thanks Kenny

[@Herecomesthethruth]

This dude is part of nascars continuing decline

[@NeedsLessWedge]

He can't beat them on the track,, so he dooks on them

[@polycube868]

At least he tries to keep the schedule from going stagnant, but not sure all his ideas for new venues are good ideas.

[@Herecomesthethruth]

@@polycube868 making changes is good.but if their a bust you do differently

[@caseydean5751]

Nascar isn’t declining anymore. If it was a stock it hit bottom and is on its way up. Just look at the tv ratings and the big money tv deals. Nascar is doing just fine

[@AlexEvans-dm3yl]

Yes the increasing TV ratings, sales, and Attendance is making Nascar decline keep telling yourself that

[@allenmccraw3339]

Really love your channel and your personality……. But respectfully, please be more concise with your questions and allow the guest(s) to speak more. Im gonna listen either way because you are a treasure for the sport.

[@WindchargerPrime]

No Nascar is not on the right path. Sports Entertainment is the WWE, F1 and Monster Jam. Series that are rigged from the get go and dont have any true skill involved. Nascar needs to steer away from Sports Entertainment and just be Sports. Plain and simple. Get Kennedy and the France Family to sell to someone who understands the sport and doesnt want to kill it like they are. Majority of this shit is hold overs from Brian Frances day and Jim cant get rid of Brians Czars.

[@johnhaas2523]

Hahaha newer generations want the entertainment

[@tompiper1480]

Nascar has been dead for years this guy doesn't know what he's doing he's a joke just like everyone else in Nascar

[@AlexEvans-dm3yl]

Yes so dead that everything is increasing for NASCAR

[@oliviaschannel548charlesclark]

State of denial common when you get paid to lie, your grandfather started it who changed it got your family confused 🫤 Kenny talking not bringing fans back actions do. Standing with fans