Taking the next step up: Ben Kennedy to make Xfinity Series debut today in Iowa

Ben Kennedy will take the next step in his racing career on Sunday, making his first career start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in the American Ethanol E15 250 at Iowa Speedway.

While Kennedy has 58 starts in the Camping World Truck Series under his belt – including a seventh-place finish in Saturday night’s Speediatrics 200 at Iowa – this will be his first go-round in the Xfinity Series.

Kennedy will be driving the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Ruud Chevrolet in the Xfinity event.

And while this is his Xfinity debut, Kennedy has looked like a series veteran thus far at Iowa. He led both practices Friday, and qualified sixth in Saturday’s qualifying session.

“Yeah, I’m pretty comfortable with it,” Kennedy said of his quick acclimation to an Xfinity car. “I kind of compare it to a K&N car in a way, just because you don’t have the downforce and side force that the trucks have. They drive so differently.

“My biggest difficulty wasn’t so much getting in an Xfinity car, but going from an Xfinity car to a Truck. It was just kind of a challenge for me, realizing how much deeper you have to drive into the corners and how much you have to tag it. I think we have a real good car and truck for this weekend and I’m looking forward to it.”

Kennedy, the grandson of late NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr., and the son of International Speedway Corporation CEO Lesa France Kennedy, has high hopes for his inaugural Xfinity race.

“I’d be happy with a top-10 finish,” Kennedy said. “I’m not trying to do anything crazy here, obviously, but I’m going to give it 100 percent and I gave the guys 100 percent (Friday) in practice. It’s great to work with (crew chief) Danny Stockman and the entire team.

“This is an awesome opportunity for me with Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet and Ruud being on board. It’s a real fast car and I’m honored to be here. I’ve sat in an Xfinity car in the shop, but just to be able to have that experience with a very good team and fast cars is just a big honor for me.”

Kennedy has been a fast learner in an Xfinity car. Not only has he driven it like a veteran thus far this weekend, he has a mindset and strategy akin to a veteran, as well.

“You just have to attack the corners differently with a different mindset,” he said. “I got used to the Xfinity car pretty quick, I felt like. You just don’t have the sideforce to lean on (like a truck), so you’ve got to close up your entries and exits and drive a little bit straighter and the bumps are a little bit different seeing how the package underneath is (different between a Truck and Xfinity ride).

“I think once we get racing and everything and get acclimated, we’ll be fine. We did a 20-lap run in the Xfinity car (on Friday) and I learned more than I’ve learned in a long time just in that 20-lap run about different things and tools I can use inside the car and during the race as far as line, momentum and whatnot.

“As much different as they are, you still have to use the same principles as far as going between the Truck and Xfinity car, just seizing the momentum as much as possible. Sure, they have a lot of power, but at the same time you also have to keep that momentum going – and I think that’s what I learned quite a bit (Friday).”

Today’s Xfinity race at Iowa: Start time, weather, radio/TV info and lineup

With the Sprint Cup Series off, the Xfinity Series get to play on a Sunday. They’ll compete in the American Ethanol E15 250 at Iowa Speedway.

Here’s all the info you need for today’s race.

(All times are Eastern)

START: Chris Schwarck Board Member of Absolute Energy and Big River Resources, will give the command for drivers to start engines at 1:37 p.m. Green flag is set to wave at 1:44 p.m.

DISTANCE: The race is 250 laps (218.75 miles) around the .875-mile oval.

PRERACE SCHEDULE: The Xfinity Garage opens at 10 a.m. The driver/crew chief meeting is at 12:15 p.m. Driver introductions are at 1:05 p.m.

NATIONAL ANTHEM: Specialist Mark Meier from the 34th Army Band, Iowa National Guard, will perform the anthem at 1:31 p.m.

TV/RADIO: FS1 will broadcast the race with its coverage beginning at 1:30 p.m. (NASCAR RaceDay airs at 1 p.m.). Motor Racing Network’s broadcast on radio and at MRN.com begins at 1 p.m. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry the MRN broadcast.

FORECAST: wunderground.com predicts a temperature of 88 degrees with a 0 percent chance of rain at the start.

LAST TIME: Ryan Blaney led 252 of the 260 laps in the August race that went beyond its scheduled distance of 250 laps. Regan Smith was second with Brian Scott third. Chris Buescher took the lead with two laps to go to win the May race. Chase Elliott was second with Erik Jones third.

STARTING LINEUP:

BYRON WINS SECOND CONSECUTIVE TRUCK SERIES RACE

RELATED: Complete race results | Updated Chase Grid

NEWTON, Iowa -- Following his second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win of the season last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender William Byron used a late race restart and three-wide pass to charge from fourth to first to win Saturday night's Speediatrics 200 at Iowa Speedway.

Byron, driving the No. 9 Liberty University Toyota Tundra, swiped the lead from Cole Custer on a restart with nine laps remaining, but a caution six laps from the finish saw the Charlotte, North Carolina, native have to defend his presence at the front.

In a two-lap shootout, the 18-year-old Byron fended off challengers Custer and Cameron Hayley for a series-high third win in just his ninth Truck Series start.

"My gosh, it's awesome just to be a part of Kyle Busch Motorsports and to have the group of guys I do," said Byron from Victory Lane. "It's amazing. I'm so fortunate to be in this position.

"We had a couple setbacks there. I stalled it on pit road and I had a few setbacks on some restarts, but we kept after it until that last restart. It's awesome."

Custer, with new crew chief Marcus Richmond, led three dramatic laps following a Lap 188 restart which saw the race lead exchange several times before Byron sailed away permanently on Lap 191.

"For the first 10 laps or so, the others were probably better than us on four tires," said Custer, who recorded his season best finish. "After that it kind of equaled out. I thought I had them there when I took the lead.

"I can't thank Marcus and everyone enough. They worked their tails off all weekend. I really appreciate that. I think we're going in the right direction."

Byron, who led a race-high 107 laps, took the lead from pole sitter John Hunter Nemechek on a Lap 54 restart and led until the event's third caution.

The running order changed dramatically following a caution on Lap 146 when five teams elected to take two tires during the final pit stop, handing the lead to Tyler Reddick.

During the stop, Byron stalled his truck leaving pit road putting him 10th on the restart. Using four tires to combat his mistake, the NASCAR NEXT alumnus began carving his path through the field and found himself back in contention when the fourth yellow of the night waved just 24 laps from the checkered flag.

The event was red flagged for five minutes, 46 seconds for track cleanup after an incident involving Caleb Holman and Derek Scott Jr. on Lap 174 .

Next up for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a stop at Gateway Motorsports Park for the running of the third annual Drivin' for Linemen 200 on Jun. 25.

NASCAR on NBC podcast, Episode XXIV: Daniel Suarez

Daniel Suarez joined the NASCAR on NBC podcast to discuss his historic Xfinity Series victory at Michigan International Speedway.

Suarez became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series, beating teammate Kyle Busch while overcoming a pit penalty and a broken gear in his No. 19 Toyota.

The victory was an extremely popular one for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, who received congratulations from many NASCAR peers such as Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Suarez also discussed:

–The satisfaction of besting Busch, the all-time winningest Xfinity Series driver;

–His humble approach to arriving in NASCAR;

–How he landed at JGR;

–His friendship with Haas F1 driver Esteban Gutierrez, a childhood friend.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking below or on the AudioBoom site or app and listen there. You also can download and subscribe to it on iTunes by clicking here. The free subscription will provide automatic downloads of new episodes to your smartphone. It also is available on Stitcher by clicking here.

Ben Kennedy fastest in first Xfinity Series practice at Iowa

In his first career Xfinity Series practice session, Ben Kennedy was the fastest driver on the track.

Driving the No. 2 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, Kennedy took a speed of 132.448 mph to the top of the chart during the series’ first practice at Iowa Speedway.

Kennedy is making his Xfinity Series debut in the American Ethanol E15 250.

Following Kennedy was Sam Hornish Jr., who is competing in his first NASCAR race of the season. Hornish also had the best 10-lap average speed at 129.419 mph.

Filling out the top five was Elliott Sadler, Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez.

Speed chart

Christopher Bell fastest in final Truck practice at Iowa

The final Camping World Truck Series practice at Iowa Speedway was led by rookieChristopher Bell.

Bell put up a speed of 135.292 mph in the session as he recorded 35 laps around the short track.

The top five was filled out by Cameron Hayley, Ben Kennedy, Kaz Grala and Tyler Reddick.

John Hunter Nemechek had the best 10-lap average at 131.415 mph.

The first session was led by Ben Rhodes. The ThorSport Racing rookie was 19th fastest in the second session.

Speed chart

Ben Kennedy sweeps Xfinity Series practice sessions at Iowa

Driving the No. 2 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, Ben Kennedy completed a sweep of the Xfinity Series’ two practice sessions at Iowa Speedway.

Kennedy, who will make his first start in the Xfinity Series on Sunday, completed the second session with a top speed of 133.809 mph.

The top five was filled out by Brendan Gaughan, Sam Hornish Jr., Erik Jones andAlex Bowman.

Brad Keselowski, one of two Sprint Cup drivers in the field, was eighth fastest.

Speed chart