Veteran NASCAR crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion has joined Kyle Busch Motorsports.
The three-truck team announced Manion’s appointment Wednesday in a media release.
A veteran of 12 seasons in NASCAR, Manion will oversee the 2016 efforts of one of the three KBM Trucks that will see Daniel Suarezand Cody Coughlin split driving duties.
“With the addition of Bono — a guy who is a true racer and a proven winner at NASCAR’s highest level — as the leader of that group of guys, I’m confident that their performance level will be much improved this season,” team owner Kyle Busch said in a media release.
Manion has served as crew chief in the Sprint Cup Series for the likes of Martin Truex Jr.,Jamie McMurray, Michael Annett and most recently Sam Hornish Jr. for the final 26 races of 2015.
Manion has won five races as a Sprint Cup crew chief, including the 2010 Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 with Jamie McMurray.
He also led Truex to consecutive Xfinity Series championships in 2004 and 2005, and racked up 13 Xfinity wins with Truex and two others with Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The other two KBM Truck teams will pair 2015 K&N Pro Series East champion William Byron and 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion crew chief Rudy Fugle, as well as Christopher Bell and veteran crew chief Jerry Baxter.
