Kevin Conway (NASCAR)
Encyclopedia
Kevin Conway is an American NASCAR
driver. He is the 2010 Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Conway has raced in motocross
, legends, the World Karting Association
, and the United States Automobile Club
.
in 2002, when he made his debut in the ARCA RE/MAX Series
. His first race came in the #17 Eagle One/Valvoline Chevrolet
for A. J. Henriksen at Atlanta Motor Speedway
, starting fifth and finished thirteenth. He ran his next race that fall at Lowe's
and finished seventh. The following year, he moved to the NASCAR Busch Series, finishing 33rd in his only start that year at Atlanta with Bost Racing. He attempted three Busch races in 2004 with Ware Racing Enterprises
, Mac Hill Motorsports, and Smith Brothers Racing, but did not qualify for any of them. He did compete in one Winston West Series race at Fontana, where he qualified and finished fifth in the #28 Ford owned by Ernie Irvan
. He attempted the first two races of the 2005 Busch season with Gary Keller's #03, but did not qualify for either of them. His lone start came at Darlington Raceway
in the #43 Channellock
/Supra Boats Dodge for the Curb Agajanian Performance Group
, where he finished 29th.
. After the team switched to the #40, the team suspended operations, leaving Conway out of a ride. He competed in the West Series once again at Irwindale Speedway
for James Pritchard, where he finished eighth.
's Busch program, signing on to the #18 Z-Line Designs Chevy for seven races. He failed to finish higher than 20th in his schedule, and was released at the end of the season.
. He began racing midway through the season in the #87 for Braun Racing
(using the #87 owners points from NEMCO Motorsports
), and had a career-best fifteenth place finish at Kentucky Speedway
. He also ran a race for R3 Motorsports
and later K Automotive Racing
to finish out the Nationwide season. He made his first Camping World Truck Series race at Phoenix, finishing nineteenth in Rob Fuller's truck, as well as unsuccessfully attempting to qualify for a Sprint Cup race in the #70 TRG Motorsports Chevy.
, Conway started season in the #37 Front Row Motorsports
Ford as a teammate to Travis Kvapil
. Conway's lack of superspeedway experience caused him to delay his Rookie of the Year campaign, as NASCAR would not give him approval to compete in the Daytona 500. Travis Kvapil
drove the #37 car to a 29th place finish in his place. Conway got a career best finish of 14th at Daytona International Speedway
in July, one of only 3 finishes better than 30th in 2010. As the only fully sponsored driver in the Front Row stable, he rotated among the team's #34, #37, and #38 cars in order to remain in the Top 35. Conway and his sponsor ExtenZe would go on to be sued by Front Row Motorsports for lack of payment, which they cite as the reason Conway was removed from the car.
. After evaluating their options for the rest of 2010 and the 2011 season, Conway and his ExtenZe sponsorship eventually moved to Robby Gordon Motorsports
' #7 car. Conway started and parked for Robby Gordon in 6 races, DNQ'ed the #07 for the team at Charlotte, and ran the full race at Fontana, finishing 31st. Robby Gordon Motorsports
would, like FRM, go on to sue ExtenZe for lack of payment.
Conway won the NASCAR Rookie of the Year
award for 2010 by default, as his only competitor, Terry Cook, ran only 3 of the first 10 races during the year. It is the least competitive rookie of the year battle in modern NASCAR history. Conway ran 28 races in 2010.
during the eighth race of the 2011 Sprint Cup season. Conway started in the 32nd position, but finished 43rd due to electrical problems and completed one lap. He also qualified for the Coke 400 at Daytona and finished 43rd after completing one lap.
Conway also raced in 5 Nationwide Series races in 2011. He finished 43rd due to overheating at Las Vegas, 22nd at Fontana, 24th at Nashville, 24th at Road America, and 25th at Daytona. All races have been ran with NEMCO Toyota and ExtenZe As the sponsor.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver. He is the 2010 Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Conway has raced in motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
, legends, the World Karting Association
World Karting Association
The World Karting Association, or WKA, is the largest sanctioning body for kart racing racing in North America. The WKA was founded in 1971 and is located directly behind Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. The WKA is believed to currently have approximately 5,000 members...
, and the United States Automobile Club
United States Automobile Club
The United States Auto Club is one of the sanctioning bodies of auto racing in the United States. From 1956 to 1979, the USAC sanctioned the United States National Championship, and from 1956 to 1997 the organization sanctioned the Indianapolis 500...
.
2002-2005
Conway moved to major-league stock car racingStock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
in 2002, when he made his debut in the ARCA RE/MAX Series
ARCA RE/MAX Series
-History:The series started as a local touring group. Led by John Marcum, the Midwest Association for Race Cars was formed with drivers like Iggy Katona and Nelson Stacy being early drivers.The series became a part of the Daytona Speedweeks in 1964...
. His first race came in the #17 Eagle One/Valvoline Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
for A. J. Henriksen at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
, starting fifth and finished thirteenth. He ran his next race that fall at Lowe's
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
and finished seventh. The following year, he moved to the NASCAR Busch Series, finishing 33rd in his only start that year at Atlanta with Bost Racing. He attempted three Busch races in 2004 with Ware Racing Enterprises
Ware Racing Enterprises
Rick Ware Racing the self-proclaimed "Biggest Little Team in Motorsports" has competed in every NASCAR sanctioned series, ARCA Series, the WMA Motocross Series, AMA Arenacross, Motocross and Supercross Series, Summer X-Games and Rolex Grand-Am Series since 2008 and is owned by former driver Rick...
, Mac Hill Motorsports, and Smith Brothers Racing, but did not qualify for any of them. He did compete in one Winston West Series race at Fontana, where he qualified and finished fifth in the #28 Ford owned by Ernie Irvan
Ernie Irvan
Virgil Earnest Irvan, more commonly known as Ernie Irvan is a former race driver in NASCAR. He is best remembered for his comeback after a serious head injury at Michigan International Speedway which earned him numerous awards and respect from his fellow drivers...
. He attempted the first two races of the 2005 Busch season with Gary Keller's #03, but did not qualify for either of them. His lone start came at Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"...
in the #43 Channellock
Channellock
Channellock is an American company that produces hand tools. It is best known for its pliers—the company manufactures more than 120 types of pliers—particularly its eponymous style of tongue-and-groove, slip-joint pliers...
/Supra Boats Dodge for the Curb Agajanian Performance Group
Curb Agajanian Performance Group
The Curb Agajanian Performance Group is a NASCAR Busch Series team. It is owned by record executive Mike Curb and racing personality Cary Agajanian. It has fielded the #43 entry for many years in the Busch Series.- NASCAR Winston Cup :...
, where he finished 29th.
2006
In 2006, he declared for Busch Series Rookie of the Year honors, driving the #58 Carver Racing Dodge, which was in the process of purchasing equipment from Glynn MotorsportsGlynn Motorsports
Glynn Motorsports is a former NASCAR Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series team. The team was owned by businessman Scott Glynn before it filed for bankruptcy in January 2006....
. After the team switched to the #40, the team suspended operations, leaving Conway out of a ride. He competed in the West Series once again at Irwindale Speedway
Irwindale Speedway
Toyota Speedway at Irwindale is a motorsports facility located in Irwindale, California, United States. It features banked, paved 1/2- and 1/3-mile oval tracks and a 1/8-mile drag strip. It opened on March 27, 1999, as Irwindale Speedway and held that name until Toyota purchased the naming rights...
for James Pritchard, where he finished eighth.
2007
In 2007, Conway joined Joe Gibbs RacingJoe Gibbs Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing is a group of NASCAR racing teams owned and operated by former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, who first started racing on the NASCAR circuit in 1991, and J. D. Gibbs, his son...
's Busch program, signing on to the #18 Z-Line Designs Chevy for seven races. He failed to finish higher than 20th in his schedule, and was released at the end of the season.
2009: Various Cup/Nationwide teams
After spending the 2008 season out of NASCAR, Conway returned in 2009 with sponsorship from his male enhancement product ExtenZeExtenZe
ExtenZe is a herbal nutritional supplement claiming to promote "natural male enhancement", which suggests a euphemism for penis enlargement. However, television commercials make few definitive claims, employing suggestion and euphemism or promising a "better" or "more fun" sexual experience...
. He began racing midway through the season in the #87 for Braun Racing
Braun Racing
Braun Racing was a NASCAR racing team based in Mooresville, North Carolina. The team was sold to Steve Turner in September 2010. The Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series teams remain active under Turner Motorsports. Following the announcement of the purchase, Turner Motorsports announced that they had...
(using the #87 owners points from NEMCO Motorsports
NEMCO Motorsports
NEMCO Motorsports is a NASCAR team that is owned by driver Joe Nemechek and his family. After a two-year hiatus, NEMCO Motorsports fielded full time entries in both the Cup and Nationwide Series in 2009 with driver Joe Nemechek. It carried the number 87 in both Cup and Nationwide. The team ran...
), and had a career-best fifteenth place finish at Kentucky Speedway
Kentucky Speedway
Kentucky Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, which has hosted ARCA, NASCAR and Indy Racing League racing annually since it opened in 2000. The track is currently owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Jerry Carroll, who, along with four other investors, owned...
. He also ran a race for R3 Motorsports
R3 Motorsports
R3 Motorsports is a NASCAR race team which began racing in 2004. It currently fields the #23 Wildlife Conservation Society Chevrolet Impala driven by Robert Richardson II R3 Motorsports is a NASCAR race team which began racing in 2004. It currently fields the #23 Wildlife Conservation Society...
and later K Automotive Racing
K Automotive Racing
K Automotive Racing is an auto racing team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. K-Automotive previously raced in ARCA and the Nationwide Series. The team is owned and operated by Bob, Brian, and Kay Keselowski. They currently field a full-time entry, the 92 Chevrolet driven by Brian...
to finish out the Nationwide season. He made his first Camping World Truck Series race at Phoenix, finishing nineteenth in Rob Fuller's truck, as well as unsuccessfully attempting to qualify for a Sprint Cup race in the #70 TRG Motorsports Chevy.
Front Row Motorsports
In the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season was the 62nd season of professional stock car racing in the United States. Beginning at Daytona International Speedway, the season included 36 races and two exhibition races. The season concluded with the 2010 Ford 400 at Homestead Miami Speedway...
, Conway started season in the #37 Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports is a team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The team began running part-time in 2004 as Means-Jenkins Motorsports under a partnership with Jimmy Means and restaurant entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, with Jenkins becoming the full team owner in 2005...
Ford as a teammate to Travis Kvapil
Travis Kvapil
Travis Kvapil is an American race car driver. He currently drives for Front Row Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.-Early career:...
. Conway's lack of superspeedway experience caused him to delay his Rookie of the Year campaign, as NASCAR would not give him approval to compete in the Daytona 500. Travis Kvapil
Travis Kvapil
Travis Kvapil is an American race car driver. He currently drives for Front Row Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.-Early career:...
drove the #37 car to a 29th place finish in his place. Conway got a career best finish of 14th at Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
in July, one of only 3 finishes better than 30th in 2010. As the only fully sponsored driver in the Front Row stable, he rotated among the team's #34, #37, and #38 cars in order to remain in the Top 35. Conway and his sponsor ExtenZe would go on to be sued by Front Row Motorsports for lack of payment, which they cite as the reason Conway was removed from the car.
Robby Gordon Motorsports
As of August 13, 2010 ExtenZe has suspended their sponsorship with Front Row Motorsports, therefore Conway was replaced on the entry list for Michigan with Tony RainesTony Raines
Floyd Anthony Raines is an American race car driver. He is a former National Touring Series champion in the now defunct American Speed Association and 1999 Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Nationwide Series...
. After evaluating their options for the rest of 2010 and the 2011 season, Conway and his ExtenZe sponsorship eventually moved to Robby Gordon Motorsports
Robby Gordon Motorsports
Robby Gordon Motorsports is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team. It fields the #7 Dodge Charger for Robby Gordon. It is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is owned by Gordon and heavily supported by John Menard, Jr.-2005:...
' #7 car. Conway started and parked for Robby Gordon in 6 races, DNQ'ed the #07 for the team at Charlotte, and ran the full race at Fontana, finishing 31st. Robby Gordon Motorsports
Robby Gordon Motorsports
Robby Gordon Motorsports is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team. It fields the #7 Dodge Charger for Robby Gordon. It is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is owned by Gordon and heavily supported by John Menard, Jr.-2005:...
would, like FRM, go on to sue ExtenZe for lack of payment.
Conway won the NASCAR Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Rookie of the Year
The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year....
award for 2010 by default, as his only competitor, Terry Cook, ran only 3 of the first 10 races during the year. It is the least competitive rookie of the year battle in modern NASCAR history. Conway ran 28 races in 2010.
2011
It was announced that Conway would enter the Daytona 500 and possibly a few more races for Joe Nemechek and Nemco Motorsports in the #97 Toyota with sponsorship from ExtenZe. Kevin did not qualify for the Daytona 500 but did race at Talladega SuperspeedwayTalladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
during the eighth race of the 2011 Sprint Cup season. Conway started in the 32nd position, but finished 43rd due to electrical problems and completed one lap. He also qualified for the Coke 400 at Daytona and finished 43rd after completing one lap.
Conway also raced in 5 Nationwide Series races in 2011. He finished 43rd due to overheating at Las Vegas, 22nd at Fontana, 24th at Nashville, 24th at Road America, and 25th at Daytona. All races have been ran with NEMCO Toyota and ExtenZe As the sponsor.