DJ Kennington plays balancing act between family, plowing snow and Daytona 500
TORONTO — DJ Kennington always comes prepared to drive, whether it’s racing at 300 kilometres per hour at the Daytona 500 or clearing snow off Ontario’s highways.
Kennington, who in February became the first Canadian to qualify for Daytona in 29 years, will compete in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series’ Grand Prix of Toronto on the streets around Exhibition Place as part of this weekend’s Honda Indy Toronto.
The 39-year-old from St. Thomas, Ont, who balances racing with his work for the Township of Southwold roads department, wound up 36th out of 40 drivers in Daytona after getting caught up in a pileup. But the chance to compete on NASCAR’s biggest stage is an experience that still resonates.
“When I got back from Daytona, the bosses, they gave me a plaque that said I was the fastest snowplow driver in Ontario,” Kennington said.