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Birth Date: November 12, 1962 Hometown: Ridgeway, Virginia Marital Status: Married Children: Emily, 23, Thomas, 17, Meg, 15 Hobbies: Fishing |
J
eff Hensley has been involved in racing for more than 30 years. He began his career in the driver's seat of his father's race car at the age of 18, racing on the local short tracks of Virginia and North Carolina. In 1982 he decided to take his driving abilities to the next level, joining the former Busch Grand National Series (currently the Nationwide Series) driving for his family-owned Hensley Motorsports.
In his NASCAR debut at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, driving the No. 63, Hensley finished in the sixth position. In 10 starts that year, he was able to pick up five top-10 finishes.
The following season, Hensley found his way to the front of the field leading laps and solidifying a place among the top10 in points with one top-five and nine top-10 finishes. During the 1984 season, the Virginia native competed in 26 of the 29 events and was determined to have another solid season. In the end, Hensley came away with one top-five and seven top-10 finishes which put him eighth in the championship point standings.
Hensley's final year behind the wheel was in 1985. With three top-10 finishes and a 12th-place in points, Hensley decided to move his talent to the top of the pit box as a crew chief.
The 1987 season took Hensley back to the Busch Grand National series but this time as crew chief for driver, Larry Pollard at the team owned by Hensley's father Hubert. Hensley led the team to a victory at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Virginia and finished the season off with four top-five and nine top-10 finishes. .
Pollard left the team after the 1987 season and Hensley's father brought in driver Mike Swaim to drive the No. 63 Texas Pete Sauces Chevrolet. With only three top-10 finishes and one pole, the team brought in Chuck Bown to complete their first full-time NASCAR Busch Series season in 1989.
The 1989 season brought much success to Hensley and No. 63 team as they made their mark in the top of the field leading over 426 laps, and capturing five top-five and 12 top-10 finishes.
Returning with Bown behind the wheel, Hensley and team captured the 1990 NASCAR Busch Series Championship. The collaboration was able to bring home six wins, six poles, 13 top-five and an amazing 18 top-10 finishes with an average start and finish of ninth. Hensley took home additional honors, topping off the year by being named '1990 Mechanic of the Year.'
Hensley stayed with the team until 2001 when he took the opportunity to be a part of Arrington Manufacturers in Martinsville, Va. From Arrington, Hensley was hired by Bill Davis Racing in 2004 to be crew chief for the No. 22 Truck team driven by Bill Lester.
After one season with Lester, Hensley partnered with veteran driver Mike Skinner for the next three seasons. Making their presence known, Hensley and Skinner recorded eight wins, 34 top-five and 46 top-10 finishes. Contending for the championship in 2007 against Ron Hornaday, Hensley and Skinner earned 12 poles, five wins, 15 top-five and a crushing 20 top-10 finishes, coming home second in the point standings. Hensley and Skinner lead at least five laps at every track that year, except one.
Bobby Hamilton Racing recruited Hensley as the Competition Director for 2008 but he quickly returned atop the pit box. In 2009 Hensley joined Xpress Motorsports to lead young up-and-coming driver Brian Scott. With the veteran crew chief calling the shots, Scott grabbed his first-career NASCAR win at Dover (Del.) International Speedway, one pole and finished sixth in the Truck Series driver point standings.
Hensley joins the KHI family after spending the 2010 season with Red Horse Racing as crew chief for Timothy Peters and the No. 17 team. There, the combination found success, earning one win, two poles, five top-five and 16 top-10 finishes which put Peters in the sixth position in the final series' point standings.
Expectations are set high for Hensley for the upcoming 2011 season and a championship is in sight. Taking over as crew chief for the No. 33 Chevrolet with four-time Truck Series champion, Ron Hornaday, Hensley is looking to place the veteran driver in the record books as the first to win five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championships, and Hensley's first in the series.
