ST. THOMAS, ON – It’s been eight years since DJ Kennington raced the high banked oval track of Daytona International Speedway. On Sunday, February 26th, the Canadian returns to compete in his very first ‘Great American Race’. Gaunt Brothers Racing, based in Moorseville, North Carolina announced Wednesday (January 18th) that the St. Thomas, Ontario driver will race the 59th running of the Daytona 500 in the Lordco Auto Parts/Castrol Canada #96 Toyota. This race kicks off the 2017 season of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

In his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut last November at Phoenix International Raceway, Kennington drove the Northern Provincial Pipelines/Clark Construction #55 Chevrolet to a 35th place finish. This car was owned by Premier Motorsports based in Huntersville, North Carolina. How Kennington runs in Florida could determine whether or not he’ll get more starts in North America’s premier stock car series.

Along with announcing Kennington as their driver for the Daytona 500, GBR announced that they’ll also run the July 1st race at Daytona and at Talladega Super Speedway on May 7th and October 15th. The good news for Kennington is that he does have limited experience at both these tracks when he ran in the NASCAR Xfinity Series close to a decade ago. He’s run a total of three times at Daytona International Speedway with a best finish of 17th back in 2009. Kennington has competed twice at Talladega with a best finish of 19th, also in 2009. Kennington has 50 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts and 5 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts. The two-time NASCAR Pinty’s Series Canadian champion, celebrates his 40th birthday in 2017 and will be designated a rookie driver for all Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series events he runs this season.

DJ’S DAYTONA SPEEDWEEKS
(all times Eastern)
> Sunday, February 19th
3:00pm – DAYTONA 500 Qualifying*
*determines front row of Daytona 500. Sets the field for the Can-Am Duels. Odd number qualifiers to run Duel Race #1. Even number qualifiers to run Duel Race #2.

> Thursday, February 23rd
Noon – Practice
7:00pm – Can-Am Duels**
**finish order from both Duels sets the 3rd through 43rd starting positions.

> Friday, February 24th
1:00pm – Practice
3:00pm – Practice

> Saturday, February 25th
1:00pm – Final Practice

> Sunday, February 26th
2:00pm – DAYTONA 500