Race Weekend Central

Premium Motorsports Adds to Driver, Sponsor Lineup

Premium Motorsports will add to their 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver lineup with the addition of DJ Kennington in Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, the team announced earlier this week (June 5). Kennington will pilot the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 with sponsorship from Auto Parts Centre, a London, Ontario-based Canadian auto parts dealer.

“Any time I can get myself in a Cup ride is a good day,” Kennington stated in a press release. “I’m proud to represent APC at Michigan and hope to make them proud of us with a good finish. This is my first time at MIS and I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to it. I’ve heard a lot of great things about this track and I can’t wait to experience it for myself.”

Kennington is from St. Thomas, Ontario, and is a two-time NASCAR Pinty’s Series champion. He has driven in five MENCS races this season for Gaunt Brothers Racing, with a best finish of 20th at Talladega.

Other Premium drivers this season have been Ross Chastain, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Joey Gase, Danica Patrick, Reed Sorenson and JJ Yeley.

Premium also recently announced (June 6) that the Tampa Bay Rowdies, a minor-league soccer team competing in the United Soccer League (USL), will be a major associate on Chastain’s No. 15 Chevrolet for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7. The Rowdies will be joining Tampa-area restaurant Caddy’s for the race.

“Daytona is always a great time,” Chastain said in a press release. “I’m so glad to have Caddy’s and the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ support for this race. I can’t wait to go out there and do my best!”

Chastain has been the team’s primary driver, running in 13 events so far this season with a best finish of 18th at Texas Motor Speedway. He is also running the full XFINITY Series schedule in the No. 4 Chevrolet for JD Motorsports, where he currently holds the final playoff position.

“The Tampa Bay Rowdies are thrilled to be a sponsor of Ross Chastain and the No. 15 for the Coke Zero Sugar 400,” team chairman and CEO Bill Edwards stated in a press release. “We’re proud to partner with Premium Motorsports and local legend Caddy’s to bring notoriety to the Tampa area and all it has to offer.”

The modern-day Rowdies play in the USL, which is the soccer equivalent of Double-A baseball. The original Rowdies competed in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984, winning the Soccer Bowl in 1975 and runners-up in 1978-79.

About the author

Wesley has been with Fronstretch since October 2017. He loves well-told stories in whatever format he finds them. Aside from NASCAR, he enjoys reading, country music and OKC Thunder basketball. He has a BA in Liberal Arts/English and currently lives in eastern Oklahoma, where he works as a freelance writer/editor.

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