Frank Kerr

Birthdate : September 30, 1960
Hometown : Bensalem, PA
Residence : Mooresville, N.C.

Leading the charge in 2009 for JTG Daugherty Racing was crew chief Frank Kerr. Kerr made Marcos Ambrose and the organization’s full-time transition into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series seamless. The Bensalem, Penn.-native guided the Australian driver to four top-five, seven top-10 and 14 top-15 finishes and a top-20 (18th) finish in the driver championship standings. He also led Ambrose to his second-career NASCAR Nationwide Series victory at Watkins Glen International in August. The following day Ambrose posted his career-best NASCAR Sprint Cup Series finish (second-place) at The Glen with Kerr on the pit box calling the shots. Now, Kerr returns in the same leadership role looking to take his driver to the next level and vie for a coveted spot in the 2010 championship chase.

Kerr has been involved in racing his entire life whether it has been behind the wheel or under the hood of a car. At the age of six, Kerr began racing his father’s quarter midgets. By the age of 16, Kerr was racing Northeast Dirt Modifieds. It didn’t take long for him to prove he was a winner behind the wheel. As he became older and his racing career advanced, Kerr amassed 250 race wins in all different types of open wheel racing, such as, All Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC), USAC and World of Outlaws to name a few.

In the fall of 1989, Kerr replaced four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon in the No. 23s owned by McBride and Shoff Motorsports in the ASCoC. While competing in the ASCoC, Kerr won four championships and finished second in the points three times. Fierce competition for the series title in 1991 is when Kerr emerged as champion for the first time after a tight battle with Kevin Huntley and Rickey Hood. Then there was a precedent-setting tie in All Star points in 1993 between Huntley and Kerr for his second championship. He delivered his third in 1994 after 12 feature wins in 64 races. He delivered his final championship in 1997.

Two years later, Kerr decided it was time to end his driving career. He relocated to North Carolina and accepted a role as car chief at CURB Agajanian with the No. 43 NASCAR Nationwide Series team and driver Jay Sauter. His next move occurred in 2001 when he went to work for JTG Daugherty Racing. He advanced to a crew chief position with the No. 59 NASCAR Nationwide Series team and driver Stacey Compton. Kerr earned back-to-back top-10 finishes with his driver in the championship standings during his reign as crew chief in 2002 and 2003.

In 2004, Kerr worked for Robby Gordon Motorsports as crew chief of his NASCAR Nationwide Series team. Kerr led Robby Gordon to his first career Nationwide win at Richmond International Raceway in September of that year. During 2005, Kerr gained experience as a crew chief in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series with Braun Racing and their No. 08 entry. Later that year, Kerr was a co-crew chief for the No. 7 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry back at Robby Gordon Motorsports before taking on his next challenge.

In 2006, Kerr accepted a position at Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) to take charge of Michael Waltrip Racing’s Research and Development department. In January 2007, as MWR prepared to enter the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with three full-time teams during Toyota’s inaugural year, Kerr was promoted to crew chief for David Reutimann and the No. 00 team’s efforts during a rookie season. His driver, Reutimann, was a dirt racer at heart. As a young adult, Reutimann sought out Kerr at the Florida State Fairgrounds (Tampa, Fla.) where he was racing to ask for his autograph. Little did Reutimann know that he would have the opportunity to work with someone he considered a hero growing up.

When the 2007 season came to an end, Kerr departed MWR to return home to JTG Daugherty Racing. After experiencing a respectable season in 2009 with Ambrose, his focus now is to earn a coveted spot in The Chase with Ambrose. Whether sitting behind the wheel or on top of the pit box, Kerr is a proven winner and a racer. The years of experience that he brings to the No. 47 Kroger Toyota Camry team will continue to be a great benefit to Ambrose in his second full-season as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitor.