Kenny Francis

Birthdate : December 1, 1969
Hometown : Jacksonville, Fla.
Residence : Mooresville, N.C.
Wife : Rebecca
Children : Emma

It’s a select group of team directors/crew chiefs that have earned the distinction of making The Chase for the Nextel Cup in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. Only 19 (team directors/crew chiefs) have made it to the “big dance” during the three years The Chase has been in existence. The list is down to only four that have made it all three years. Evernham Motorsports’ Kenny Francis is among that select group that includes Chad Knaus (Jimmie Johnson), Robby Reiser (Matt Kenseth) and Pat Tryson (Mark Martin).

Francis has an additional distinction. He is the only member of the elite group to accomplish the fete with different drivers, but within the same organization. He directed the No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge driven by Jeremy Mayfield into the inaugural Chase in 2004 as the team director and crew chief. In 2005, he relinquished the day-to-day operation of crew chief, but continued as the team director. The results – the No. 19 Dodge earned a berth in The Chase for the second consecutive year.

Team owner Ray Evernham elected to shuffle personnel within the organization. The shift sent Francis along with Mike Shiplett (car director) and Keith Rodden (engineer) to the No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger driven by Kasey Kahne.

Evernham hit the right formula with the Francis-Kahne combination. With Francis making the calls from the pit box, Kahne posted a series-high six wins and earned a berth in The Chase. He finished eighth in the final point standings. In addition to the six wins, Kahne had 12 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes and started from the Bud Pole six times during the season, more poles than any other driver.

Most observers think the success the duo achieved in 2006 is only the beginning of a partnership that will continue to post wins and challenge for the Nextel Cup.

Francis started his adventure in motorsports at a very young age.

At eight years old, Francis was racing go karts around his hometown of Jacksonville, Fla. His success on the local level led to a state championship and a trip around the regional and national circuits. Francis didn’t stop racing when he enrolled in the University of Florida where he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering.

As Francis took the next step in his education, he did the same in racing, graduating to late model stock cars. Racing close to school, Francis busied himself with studying, racing and working at a power company.

Graduating in 1993, Francis devoted more time to racing and began traveling to places such as Myrtle Beach, S. C., and South Boston, VA. While he was competitive in late models, claiming poles and winning his share of races, he grew tired of the rigors of finding the sponsorship needed to run. The hassles of making it to the track every week, coupled with the fact that he was still working at the power company, forced Francis to make a decision.

In 1996, Francis got out of the car and began working in the Busch Series for a Florida-based team. He did everything from chief fabricator to car set-up. He continued in the Busch Series until he made the leap to the Winston Cup Series in 1998 with Butch Mock and driver Rick Mast. It was his sophomore season on the circuit that Francis found himself on the championship team of driver Dale Jarrett.

Francis stayed with the team through the 2000 season, but the appeal of working with Ray Evernham and returning manufacturer Dodge proved too tempting. So in 2001, Francis joined Evernham Motorsports as the team engineer for the No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge with driver Bill Elliott. He moved to the No. 19 team in 2003 as team director and crew chief.