Kenzie_Ruston

Kenzie Ruston Hemric

Kenzie Ruston Hemric

American stock car racing driver

Kenzie Ruston Hemric (born October 12, 1991) is an American former professional stock car racing driver. She last competed in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2015, driving the No. 4 Toyota Camry for Rev Racing. Hemric is married to current NASCAR Cup Series driver Daniel Hemric.

Quick Facts Nationality, Born ...

Hemric began her professional stock car racing career in the 2011 ARCA Racing Series, driving four races for Venturini Motorsports. She later competed as a NASCAR Drive for Diversity member in the K&N Pro Series East, where she competed for three seasons (2013–15). Her best career finish came in 2014 at Iowa Speedway, where she finished second.

Racing career

Early career

Ruston both raced and played volleyball in high school before deciding to focus on racing full-time prior to her senior year;[1] she began racing Bandoleros at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) when she was 14 years old.[2] When she was 16, she switched to Legends car racing, competing in the track's Semi-Pro and Young Lions divisions, finishing third in the latter's Winter Series.[2] In addition, she raced in TMS' Summer Stampede, finishing second, and in the top-ten in Charlotte Motor Speedway's Summer Shootout.[2] Upon turning 17, Ruston moved to North Carolina. In 2009, Ruston won TMS' Winter Series, Summer Stampede and the track's Driver of the Year award,[2] along with the U.S. Legends asphalt championship, the first woman to win the title.[3] The next year, she began racing in super late models, finishing 12th in the PASS Series Southern Division's championship.[2]

Stock car racing

In 2011, Ruston began competing in stock cars. She made four ARCA Racing Series races with Venturini Motorsports, making her debut at Toledo Speedway in the No. 25 Toyota, and finished 10th. She switched to No. 55 for three additional races, finishing 10th, 12th, and 26th.[4] During the year, she also competed in the Champion Racing Association, winning at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.[2] In December, she participated in the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway for Jeff Fultz, finishing 31st after a crash on lap 145.[5]

NASCAR

Ruston's No. 34 car at Richmond International Raceway in 2013

In 2013, Ruston was signed by Turner Scott Motorsports to contest the 2013 K&N Pro Series East season,[6] and in June, she was named a member of the NASCAR Next program,[3] the first woman to join the program.[7] She ended the year with four top-fives, including a best finish of third at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, and finished sixth in the points standings.[8]

For the 2014 season, Ruston was signed by Ben Kennedy Racing.[8] She was not retained by Kennedy at the end of the season due to sponsorship, being replaced by Kaz Grala.[1]

On January 26, 2015, Ruston was announced as a member of the 2015 Drive for Diversity roster, joining Rev Racing for the full 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season.[9] She finished 11th in the points standings, with a best finish of sixth at Motordrome Speedway.[10]

Personal life

Ruston's father, Darren, was a dirt bike racer in Oklahoma, while her step-grandfather, Jerry Morrison, was an Oklahoma dirt track racer.[2] The youngest of two daughters, Ruston was a cheerleader and volleyball, soccer, and basketball player in high school.[2]

On July 28, 2015, Ruston became engaged to Camping World Truck Series driver Daniel Hemric.[11] They married on January 7, 2017.[12] In November 2019, the Hemrics announced that they were expecting their first child.[13] Their daughter was born on May 9, 2020.[14] In August 2022, the Hemrics announced that they were expecting their second child.[15] Their son was born on December 23, 2022.

Motorsports career results

Career summary

More information Season, Series ...

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

K&N Pro Series East

More information NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results, Year ...

ARCA Racing Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

More information ARCA Racing Series results, Year ...

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

References

  1. [1]
    James, Brant (October 30, 2014). "NASCAR prospect Kenzie Ruston Raring To Go -- If She Gets A Ride". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  2. [2]
    Williams, Deb (July 25, 2014). "Kenzie Ruston's high school decision leads to racing career". The Charlotte Observer. The McClatchy Company. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  3. [3]
    Meredith, Luke (June 12, 2013). "AUTO PACKAGE: Turner Scott driver Kenzie Ruston on the rise in NASCAR K&N Pro Series". Fox News Channel. Des Moines, Iowa: FOX News Network, LLC. Associated Press. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  4. [4]
    "Kenzie Ruston − 2011 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  5. [5]
    "2011 Snowball Derby". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  6. [6]
    Meredith, Luke (June 12, 2013). "Kenzie Ruston on the rise for Turner Scott". Associated Press. Des Moines, Iowa: AP Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  7. [7]
    "Ruston to Race for Kennedy". Motor Racing Network. December 19, 2013. Archived from the original on March 31, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  8. [8]
    DiZinno, Tony (December 22, 2013). "Kenzie Ruston joins Ben Kennedy's NASCAR team". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  9. [9]
    James, Brant (January 26, 2015). "Kenzie Ruston looks to defy odds in NASCAR diversity program". USA Today. Charlotte, North Carolina: Gannett Company. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  10. [10]
    "Kenzie Ruston – 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  11. [11]
    "Hemric, Ruston announce engagement". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. July 28, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  12. [12]
    "Daniel Hemric and Kenzie Ruston Tie the Knot in Jamaica". RCR Racing. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  13. [13]
    McFadin, Daniel (2019-11-29). "Daniel and Kenzie Hemric expecting first baby". NASCAR Talk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
  14. [14]
    "Daniel Hemric, wife Kenzie welcome baby girl Rhen | NASCAR". Official Site Of NASCAR. 2020-05-10. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
  15. [15]
    "NASCAR Driver Daniel Hemric and Wife Kenzie Expecting Second Baby Together: 'Party of 4!'". PEOPLE.com. 2022-08-01. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  16. [16]
    "Kenzie Ruston – 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  17. [17]
    "Kenzie Ruston – 2014 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
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