AVONDALE, AZ (March 11) – In only his 7th start in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Canada’s DJ Kennington finished 31st at ISM Raceway (formally Phoenix International Raceway) Sunday afternoon.  The Ticket Guardian 500 was Kenningtons 20th official NASCAR start in the Copper State. Since 2007, Kennington has raced in all of NASCAR’s racing divisions at the Arizona track.  The St. Thomas, Ontario driver qualified 34th in the Northern Provincial Pipelines Ltd./Clark Construction #96 Toyota.  At the midway point of the 312 lap race Kennington had managed to gain just two positions. On lap 200, Kennington cracked the top 30 for the first time in the race.

GREEN FLAG PITSTOP FOR KENNINGTON AT ISM RACEWAY

On lap 250, Kennington was running 28th, however just five laps later one small bright spot from the race weekend.  For the first time in the afternoon, Kennington broke into the top 20.  Green flag pitstops saw many of the front runners head to the pits for fuel and tires.  By lap 262 Kennington was running in the 16th position.  His time in the top 20 was short lived as he too would eventually have to pit for fuel and tires.  Just before lap 270, under green flag conditions, Kennington headed to the pits.  All on-track positions gained would be returned.  Kennington finished 31st at ISM Raceway when the checkered flag flew.  The race was won by Kevin Harvick, his third consecutive win of the 2018 season.

RACE RESULTS – SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 2018
(x) – starting position
1.(10) # 4 Kevin Harvick – Bakersfield, California
2. (7) #18 Kyle Busch – Las Vegas, Nevada
3. (3) # 9 Chase Elliott – Dawsonville, Georgia
4. (6) #11 Denny Hamlin – Chesterfield, Virginia
5. (1) #78 Martin Truex Jr. – Mayetta, New Jersey
6.(19) #14 Clint Bowyer – Emporia, Kansas
7.(22) #10 Aric Almirola – Tampa, Florida
8.(15) #19 Daniel Suarez – Monterrey, Mexico
9. (9) #20 Erik Jones – Byron, Michigan
10.(23)#41 Kurt Busch – Las Vegas, Nevada
11.(13)#31 Ryan Newman – South Bend, Indiana
12.(11)#24 William Byron – Charlotte, North Carolina
13. (4)#88 Alex Bowman – Tucson, Arizona
14.(17)#48 Jimmie Johnson – El Cajon, California
15.(25)# 2 Brad Keselowski – Auburn Hills, Michigan
16.(12)#12 Ryan Blaney – High Point, North Carolina
17.(18)# 3 Austin Dillon – Welcome, North Carolina
18. (2)#42 Kyle Larson – Elk Grove, California
19. (5)#22 Joey Logano – Middletown, Connecticut
20.(21)# 6 Trevor Bayne – Knoxville, Tennessee
21.(20)#47 AJ Allmendinger – Los Gatos, California
22.(16)#38 David Ragan – Unadilla, Georgia
23.(29)#17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – Olive Branch, Mississippi
24.(26)#95 Kasey Kahne – Eunamclaw, Washington
25.(30)#32 Matt DiBenedetto – Grass Valley, California
26. (8)# 1 Jamie McMurray – Joplin, Missouri
27.(36)#15 Ross Chastain – Alva, Florida
28.(27)#43 Darrell Wallace Jr.- Mobile, Alabama
29.(24)#37 Chris Buescher – Prosper, Texas
30.(28)#13 Ty Dillon – Lewisville, North Carolina
31.(34)#96 DJ Kennington – St. Thomas, Ontario
32.(31)#34 Michael McDowell – Glendale, Arizona
33.(35)#51 Timmy Hill – Port Tobacco, Maryland
34.(32)#23 Gray Gaulding – Colonial Heights, Virginia
35.(37)#00 Jeffrey Earnhardt – Mooresville, North Carolina
36.(14)#21 Paul Menard – Eau Claire, Wisconsin
37.(33)#72 Corey LaJoie – Concord, North Carolina