Ben Rhodes – 2016 Homestead Preview

Nov 16, 2016

Hero Card Requests:

Send a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope to: ThorSport Racing Attn: Hero Card Request PO Box 2218 Sandusky, OH 44871
TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 22: Ben Rhodes, driver of the #41 XPO Logistics Toyota, stands on the grid prior to qualifying for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series fred's 250 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 22, 2016 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

Team Information:
Crew Chief: Kevin Bellicourt
Manufacturer: Toyota
Engine: Triad Racing Technologies
2016 Driver Points: 14th
2016 Owner Points: 16th

Sounding Off – Ben Rhodes:

“Homestead-Miami Speedway is a really fun track, but also very challenging. I’m really glad that I have experience there, and even Eldora, just for the fact that it takes so much skill to run right next to the wall, which is the preferred line. You can be fast on the bottom, but guys like Kyle Larson, and my teammate, Rico Abreu, have shown us that running up there helps save the tires the best, and keeps the most speed on a long run. I learned last year that the key to running up top is to have a loose truck so that you can control the truck a little bit better, and get away from the wall if you need to. While it is the last race of the year, we are going to have a lot of fun.”

News & Notes:

  • Chassis Chatter…The No. 41 ThorSport Racing team will unload chassis No. 57 for Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This chassis was built new for the 2016 season and made its debut at Chicagoland Speedway earlier this season.
  • Miami Minute…Rhodes, who will be making his 27th career NCWTS start on Friday night, will make his second career start at the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway. Rhodes made his track debut in the 2015 Xfinity Series season finale for JR Motorsports. The Louisville, KY native started 18th and finished 20th.
  • Intermediate Track Success… In eight career NCWTS starts on an Intermediate-style track (1.5-miles in length), Rhodes has one top-10 (Atlanta), and four top-15 finishes.
  • Rookie Stripe… Rhodes is currently fourth in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings after 22 of 23 races this season.
  • Rearview Mirror – Phoenix… Making his second career start at Phoenix International Raceway in the NCWTS, Rhodes started ninth, ran as high as seventh, and finished 14th in the 150-lap event.

Rhodes Homestead Xfinity Series Stats:

  • Starts: 1 (2015)
  • Started: 18th
  • Finished: 20th
  • Laps Completed: 198 of 200
  • Laps Led: 0
  • Status: Running

Rhodes 2016 NCWTS Stats:

  • Starts: 22
  • Poles: 1 (Martinsville, 2016)
  • Top-5 Finishes: 2
  • Top-10 Finishes: 5
  • Laps Completed: 3028 of 3305 (91.6%)
  • Laps Led: 55
  • Start: 9.7
  • Finish: 15.7

Rhodes Career NCWTS stats:

  • Starts: 26 since 2014
  • First full-time season: 2016
  • Poles: 1 (Martinsville, 2016)
  • Top-5 Finishes: 3
  • Top-10 Finishes: 8
  • Laps Completed: 3779
  • Laps Led: 55
  • First start: Martinsville, 2014 (8th)
  • Best finish: 2nd (Gateway, 2016)
  • Start: 9.5
  • Finish: 15.0

Race Information:
Date: Friday, November 18, 2016
Time: 8pm ET on FOX, MRN Radio & SiriusXM Channel 90
Track: 1.5-mile oval
Distance: 134 laps/201 miles