Kenzie Ruston to race for Ben Kennedy Racing in 2014

Ben Kennedy may be moving up to the Camping World Truck Series – but his team is staying in the K&N Pro Series East.

Fresh off announcing that he would join Turner-Scott Motorsports next season in the Camping World Truck Series full-time, the great-grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Jr. announced that BKR will stay in Daytona Beach, Florida and field a full-time effort in 2014.

“Getting an opportunity in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with Turner Scott Motorsports was due in large part to the time and hard work the team at Ben Kennedy Racing put in over the last two years,” Kennedy said. “To be able to maintain the team here in Daytona and put another talented young driver in the seat is a really cool deal.”

The talented young driver that will pilot the No. 96 Ben Kennedy Racing Chevrolet full-time in 2014? 22-year-old Kenzie Ruston.

Ruston competed in the K&N Pro Series East last year for Turner-Scott Motorsports as a rookie, finishing sixth in points. The El Reno, Okla., native had four top fives, including a third-place finish at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway in April.

“Jumping into the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East last year was a great experience and I really learned a lot in my first year,” Ruston said. “Having competed against Ben and his team, I’ve seen firsthand the dedication and level of excellence they bring to the track.

“I saw how they were really able to help Ben grow in the series from one year to the next, and get him prepared for the national series. I’m really looking forward to getting into that car in New Smyrna and Daytona in February.”

Kennedy drove the car last year to a solid fourth finish in points, winning a pair of races to catch the eyes of TSM. He made a couple starts with TSM late in the year in the Truck Series, including a fourth place finish at Martinsville Speedway.  As a result, TSM hired Kennedy to replace James Buescher behind the wheel of the No. 31 as Buescher heads to RAB Racing in 2014.