A mere three points separate Ben Kennedy (184) and Tyler Reddick (181) in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings. The two youngsters have one more opportunity to compete for who comes out on top – Friday’s Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In search of his first win, Kennedy ranks eighth in the overall standings and claims seven top-10 finishes this season. He has led the Sunoco Rookie of the Year points standings since the second race of the season and earned his career-best third-place finish at Martinsville in March. The 22-year-old NASCAR Next alum came in 30th at Homestead last season – his only previous start there – after experiencing an engine failure 45 laps shy of the finish line. At the conclusion of the race, Kennedy will be the first descendant of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. to complete a season in one of NASCAR’s three national series. Though starting only 15 of the 21 races this season, Reddick has stormed his way into the Sunoco Rookie of the Year conversation with six top-10 finishes in the last seven races, including three season-best fourth-place showings. The 18-year-old Corning, California native took 10th in last week’s event at Phoenix. Friday’s start will be his first appearance at Homestead. Rounding out the NCWTS Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings are Mason Mingus (44 points behind Kennedy), Tyler Young (-49) and NASCAR Next member Gray Gaulding (-103).(NASCAR)
