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:Kevin O'Connell (racing driver)

{{Short description|American racing driver (born 1967)}}

{{Infobox NASCAR driver

| name = Kevin O'Connell

| image = Kevin O'Connell Vegas 2024.jpg

| caption = O'Connell in 2024

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|4|29}}

| birth_place = Newport Beach, California, U.S.

| height =

| weight =

| achievements =

| awards =

| Total_Cup_Races = 1

| Years_In_Cup = 1

| Cup_Car_Team =

| Prev_Cup_Pos = 46th

| Prev_Cup_Year = 2017

| Best_Cup_Pos = 46th (2017)

| First_Cup_Race = 2017 Toyota/Save Mart 350 (Sonoma)

| Last_Cup_Race =

| First_Cup_Win =

| Last_Cup_Win =

| Cup_Wins = 0

| Cup_Top_Tens = 0

| Cup_Poles = 0

| Total_Busch_Races = 7

| Years_In_Busch = 5

| Busch_Car_Team =

| Prev_Busch_Pos = 58th

| Prev_Busch_Year = 2015

| Best_Busch_Pos = 52nd (2014)

| First_Busch_Race = 2008 Corona México 200 (Mexico City)

| Last_Busch_Race = 2015 Road America 180 (Road America)

| First_Busch_Win =

| Last_Busch_Win =

| Busch_Wins = 0

| Busch_Top_Tens = 1

| Busch_Poles = 0

| updated = June 25, 2017

}}

Kevin O'Connell (born April 29, 1967) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 15 Chevrolet SS for Premium Motorsports.

Racing career

O'Connell ran in the Rolex Sports Car Series in 2006 for O'Connell Racing in the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen.{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/oconke01/2006/GA|title=2006 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|access-date=July 7, 2014}} O'Connell also ran two races in the 2012 season with Rick Ware Racing at Road America and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/oconke01/2012/GA|title=2012 NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|access-date=July 8, 2014}}

From 2007 to 2008, O'Connell ran four races in the K&N Pro Series West, with a best finish of 15th at Infineon Raceway in 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/rquery?id=oconke01&trk=t0&series=P|title=NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results (races)|work=Racing-Reference|access-date=July 8, 2014}} In 2013, O'Connell entered the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series race at Brands Hatch, becoming the first American to race in the series on a road course.{{cite web|last=Green|first=Edmund|url=http://www.edmunds.com/car-news/american-oconnell-to-race-in-euro-nascar-series.html|title=American O'Connell To Race in Euro NASCAR Series|publisher=Edmunds.com|date=June 6, 2013|access-date=July 7, 2014}}

In 2008, O'Connell made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in the No. 09 Chevrolet for O'Connell Racing, with his Rolex pit crew also servicing his NASCAR team, and Rolex teammate Kevin Roush serving as spotter.{{cite web|author=O'Connell Racing|url=http://www.motorsport.com/grandam/news/mexico-city-o-connell-racing-preview/|title=Mexico City: O'Connell Racing preview|publisher=Motorsport|date=April 15, 2008|access-date=July 8, 2014|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305014453/http://www.motorsport.com/grandam/news/mexico-city-o-connell-racing-preview/|url-status=dead}} After starting 34th, O'Connell was involved in a crash with David Reutimann in turn 7 on lap 36, finishing 37th.{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/race/2008_Corona_Mexico_200_Presented_by_Banamex/B|title=2008 Corona Mexico 200 Presented by Banamex|work=Racing-Reference|access-date=July 8, 2014}} In 2010, O'Connell joined Curb Racing in the No. 43 at Road America,{{cite web|url=http://www.jayski.com/nationwide/2010/next/entries/nns15ramentry.html|title=BUCYRUS 200 - ROAD AMERICA|work=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=July 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101070537/http://www.jayski.com/nationwide/2010/next/entries/nns15ramentry.html|archive-date=November 1, 2014|url-status=dead}} finishing 34th after suffering an engine failure.{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/race/2010_Bucyrus_200_Presented_by_Menards/B|title=2010 Bucyrus 200 Presented by Menards|work=Racing-Reference|access-date=July 8, 2014}} On June 21, 2014, it was announced that O'Connell would run in the Nationwide races at Road America and Watkins Glen International in the No. 23 for Rick Ware Racing.{{cite web|author=O'Connell Racing|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/kevin-oconnell-race-road-america-150000119.html|title=Kevin O'Connell to Race Road America & Watkins Glen in 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series|publisher=Yahoo! Finance|date=July 7, 2014|access-date=July 7, 2014}} At Road America, after qualifying 26th with a lap speed of {{convert|104.941|mph|km/h}},{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/getqualify/2014-14/B|title=2014 Gardner Denver 200 qualifying results|work=Racing-Reference|access-date=July 8, 2014|archive-date=July 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701222153/http://racing-reference.info/getqualify/2014-14/B|url-status=dead}} O'Connell finished third.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-motors-roundup-20140621-story.html|title=Brendan Gaughan wins Nationwide race at Road America|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=June 21, 2014|access-date=July 8, 2014}} In 2015, O'Connell drove the No. 13 Dodge Challenger for MBM Motorsports at Watkins Glen.

In 2017, it was announced that O'Connell would make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut for Rick Ware Racing at Sonoma Raceway that summer.{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2017/1/20/rick-ware-racing-to-field-monster-energy-nascar-cup-series-team.html|title=RICK WARE RACING TO FIELD MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES TEAM|work=NASCAR|date=January 20, 2017|access-date=January 20, 2017}} However, after the report came out Josh Bilicki said that he would drive the Sonoma race for the team.{{Cite news|url=http://autoracingdaily.com/nascar-cup-josh-bilicki-joins-rick-ware-racing-for-road-courses/|title=NASCAR Cup: Josh Bilicki joins Rick Ware Racing for road courses|work=Auto Racing Daily|access-date=2017-05-22|language=en-US}} Instead, O'Connell drove the No. 15 for Premium Motorsports; after starting 36th, he finished 33rd.{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/race/2017_Toyota-Save_Mart_350/W|title=2017 Toyota / Save Mart 350|work=Racing-Reference|access-date=June 25, 2017}}

Personal life

O'Connell is the first driver in NASCAR's top three series (Cup, Xfinity, Camping World Truck Series) to receive his master's degree.{{cite web|url=http://oconnellracing.com/2014/12/kevin-oconnell-receives-1st-annual-david-m-jackson-racers-achievement-award/|title=KEVIN O'CONNELL RECEIVES 1ST ANNUAL DAVID M. JACKSON RACER'S ACHIEVEMENT AWARD|work=O'Connell Racing|date=December 20, 2014|access-date=May 15, 2015}}

Images

File:Kevin OConnell 2014 Gardner Denver 200 at Road America.jpg

File:Road America 2013 Nationwide 74 Kevin O'Connell.jpg|O'Connell's 74 at Road America in 2013

File:23 Kevin OConnell passenger side NASCAR Nationwide 2014 Gardner Denver 200 at Road America.jpg|O'Connell's 23 at Road America in 2014

File:23 Kevin OConnell drivers side NASCAR Nationwide 2014 Gardner Denver 200 at Road America.jpg|O'Connell's 23 at Road America in 2014

File:Kevin O'Connell Sonoma 2017.jpg|O'Connell's No. 15 during the 2017 Toyota/Save Mart 350

Motorsports career results

=NASCAR=

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

==Monster Energy Cup Series==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
colspan=45| Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series results
Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! 21

! 22

! 23

! 24

! 25

! 26

! 27

! 28

! 29

! 30

! 31

! 32

! 33

! 34

! 35

! 36

! {{Tooltip|MENCC|Monster Energy NASCAR Cup classification}}

! Pts

! Ref

2017

! Premium Motorsports

! 15

! Chevy

| DAY

| ATL

| LVS

| PHO

| CAL

| MAR

| TEX

| BRI

| RCH

| TAL

| KAN

| CLT

| DOV

| POC

| MCH

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SON
33

| DAY

| KEN

| NHA

| IND

| POC

| GLN

| MCH

| BRI

| DAR

| RCH

| CHI

| NHA

| DOV

| CLT

| TAL

| KAN

| MAR

| TEX

| PHO

| HOM

! 46th

! 4

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/oconke01/2017/W|title=Kevin O'Connell – 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=April 3, 2023}}

==Xfinity Series==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"

!colspan=42| NASCAR Xfinity Series results

Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! 21

! 22

! 23

! 24

! 25

! 26

! 27

! 28

! 29

! 30

! 31

! 32

! 33

! 34

! 35

! {{Tooltip|NXSC|NASCAR Xfinity Series classification}}

! Pts

! Ref

2008

! O'Connell Racing

! 09

! Chevy

| DAY

| CAL

| LVS

| ATL

| BRI

| NSH

| TEX

| PHO

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MXC
37

| TAL

| RCH

| DAR

| CLT

| DOV

| NSH

| KEN

| MLW

| NHA

| DAY

| CHI

| GTY

| IRP

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| CGV
DNQ

| GLN

| MCH

| BRI

| CAL

| RCH

| DOV

| KAN

| CLT

| MEM

| TEX

| PHO

| HOM

! 140th

! 52

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/oconke01/2008/B|title=Kevin O'Connell – 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=April 3, 2023}}

2010

! Curb Racing

! 43

! Chevy

| DAY

| CAL

| LVS

| BRI

| NSH

| PHO

| TEX

| TAL

| RCH

| DAR

| DOV

| CLT

| NSH

| KEN

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ROA
34

| NHA

| DAY

| CHI

| GTY

| IRP

| IOW

| GLN

| MCH

| BRI

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| CGV
DNQ

| ATL

| RCH

| DOV

| KAN

| CAL

| CLT

| GTY

| TEX

| PHO

| HOM

! 134th

! 61

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/oconke01/2010/B|title=Kevin O'Connell – 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=April 3, 2023}}

2013

! Mike Harmon Racing

! 74

! Chevy

| DAY

| PHO

| LVS

| BRI

| CAL

| TEX

| RCH

| TAL

| DAR

| CLT

| DOV

| IOW

| MCH

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ROA
22

| KEN

| DAY

| NHA

| CHI

| IND

| IOW

| GLN

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MOH
34

| BRI

| ATL

| RCH

| CHI

| KEN

| DOV

| KAN

| CLT

| TEX

| PHO

| HOM

| colspan=2|

! 66th

! 32

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/oconke01/2013/B|title=Kevin O'Connell – 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=April 3, 2023}}

2014

! Rick Ware Racing

! 23

! Chevy

| DAY

| PHO

| LVS

| BRI

| CAL

| TEX

| DAR

| RCH

| TAL

| IOW

| CLT

| DOV

| MCH

| style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ROA
3

| KEN

| DAY

| NHA

| CHI

| IND

| IOW

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GLN
37

| MOH

| BRI

| ATL

| RCH

| CHI

| KEN

| DOV

| KAN

| CLT

| TEX

| PHO

| HOM

| colspan=2|

! 52nd

! 48

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/oconke01/2014/B|title=Kevin O'Connell – 2004 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=April 3, 2023}}

rowspan=2| 2015

! MBM Motorsports

! 13

! Dodge

| DAY

| ATL

| LVS

| PHO

| CAL

| TEX

| BRI

| RCH

| TAL

| IOW

| CLT

| DOV

| MCH

| CHI

| DAY

| KEN

| NHA

| IND

| IOW

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GLN
33

| MOH

| BRI

| colspan=13|

! rowspan=2| 58th

! rowspan=2| 35

! rowspan=2| {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/oconke01/2015/B|title=Kevin O'Connell – 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=April 3, 2023}}

Rick Ware Racing

! 15

! Chevy

| colspan=22|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ROA
17

| DAR

| RCH

| CHI

| KEN

| DOV

| CLT

| KAN

| TEX

| PHO

| HOM

| colspan=2|

==K&N Pro Series East==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
colspan=45| NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results
Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! {{Tooltip|NKNPSEC|NASCAR K&N Pro Series East classification}}

! Pts

! Ref

2015

! Spraker Racing

! 37

! Chevy

| NSM

| GRE

| BRI

| IOW

| BGS

| LGY

| COL

| NHA

| IOW

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GLN
21

| MOT

| VIR

| RCH

| DOV

! 57th

! 23

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/oconke01/2015/E|title=Kevin O'Connell – 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=April 3, 2023}}

==K&N Pro Series West==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"

!colspan=23| NASCAR K&N Pro Series West results

Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! {{Tooltip|NKNPSWC|NASCAR K&N Pro Series West classification}}

! Pts

! Ref

rowspan=2| 2007

! O'Connell Racing

! 06

! Chevy

| CTS

| PHO

| AMP

| ELK

| IOW

| CNS

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SON
15

| DCS

| IRW

| colspan=5|

! rowspan=2| 34th

! rowspan=2| 330

! rowspan=2| {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/oconke01/2007/P|title=Kevin O'Connell – 2007 NASCAR Camping World West Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=April 3, 2023}}

Melo Motorsports

! rowspan=2| 59

! rowspan=2| Chevy

| colspan=9|

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MMP
17

| EVG

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CSR
21

| AMP

|

2008

! O'Connell Racing

| AAS

| PHO

| CTS

| IOW

| CNS

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SON
20

| IRW

| DCS

| EVG

| MMP

| IRW

| AMP

| AAS

|

! 64th

! 103

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/oconke01/2008/P|title=Kevin O'Connell – 2008 NASCAR Camping World West Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=April 3, 2023}}

2017

! Performance P-1 Motorsports

! 77

! Chevy

| TUS

| KCR

| IRW

| IRW

| SPO

| OSS

| CNS

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SON
32

| IOW

| EVG

| DCS

| MER

| AAS

| KCR

! 63rd

! 12

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/oconke01/2017/P|title=Kevin O'Connell – 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=April 3, 2023}}

==Canadian Tire Series==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"

! colspan=45| NASCAR Canadian Tire Series results

Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! {{Tooltip|NCTSC|NASCAR Canadian Tire Series classification}}

! Pts

! Ref

2015

! Derek White

! 00

! Chevy

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MSP
21

| ACD

| SSS

| ICAR

| EIR

| SAS

| ASE

| CTR

| RIS

| MSP

| KWA

! 50th

! 23

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/oconke01/2015/T|title=Kevin O'Connell – 2015 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=April 3, 2023}}

==Mexico Series==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"

!colspan=24| NASCAR Mexico Series results

Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! {{Tooltip|NMSC|NASCAR Mexico Series classification}}

! Pts

! Ref

2015

! Fenix Racing

! 14

! Ford

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| PHO
18

| SLP

| TUX

| QRO

| PUE

| AGS

| CHI

| SLP

| PUE

| SLP

| CHI

| AGS

| MXC

| MXC

| TUX

! 34th

! 26

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/oconke01/2015/MX|title=Kevin O'Connell – 2015 NASCAR Mexico Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=April 3, 2023}}

==Whelen Euro Series - Elite 1==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"

!colspan=21| NASCAR Whelen Euro Series - Elite 1 results

Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! {{Tooltip|NWES|NASCAR Whelen Euro Series classification}}

! Pts

! Ref

2013

! Racing Club Partners

! 20

! Toyota

| NOG

| NOG

| DIJ

| DIJ

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRH
{{small|14}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRH
{{small|15}}

| TOU

| TOU

| MNZ

| MNZ

| BUG

| BUG

! 35th

! -

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/oconke01/2013/E1|title=Kevin O'Connell – 2013 NASCAR Whelen Euro Elite 1 Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=April 3, 2023}}

==Whelen Euro Series - Elite 2==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"

!colspan=21| NASCAR Whelen Euro Series - Elite 2 results

Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! {{Tooltip|NWES|NASCAR Whelen Euro Series classification}}

! Pts

! Ref

2013

! Racing Club Partners

! 20

! Toyota

| NOG

| NOG

| DIJ

| DIJ

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH
{{small|22}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BRH
{{small|8}}

| TOU

| TOU

| MNZ

| MNZ

| BUG

| BUG

! 35th

! -

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/oconke01/2013/E2|title=Kevin O'Connell – 2013 NASCAR Whelen Euro Elite 2 Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=April 3, 2023}}

{{sup|*}} Season still in progress

{{sup|1}} Ineligible for series points

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category|Kevin O'Connell}}

  • {{Racing-Reference driver|Kevin_OConnell|Kevin O'Connell}}

{{JRR}}

{{Rick Ware Racing}}

{{MBM Motorsports}}

{{Mike Harmon Racing}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:OConnell, Kevin}}

Category:Living people

Category:1967 births

Category:Sportspeople from Newport Beach, California

Category:Racing drivers from California

Category:NASCAR drivers

Category:Rolex Sports Car Series drivers