Ben Rhodes – 2016 Texas Preview

Jun 7, 2016

Hero Card Requests:

Send a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope to: ThorSport Racing Attn: Hero Card Request PO Box 2218 Sandusky, OH 44871

Rhodes_Ben_2015Hero_NXSTeam Information:
Crew Chief: Kevin Bellicourt
Manufacturer: Toyota
Engine: Triad Racing Technologies
2016 Driver Point Standings: 16th
2016 Owner Point Standings: 17th

Sounding Off – Ben Rhodes:

You’ll make another track debut this weekend at Texas. Are you able to take what you’ve learned at the mile-and-a-half tracks this season, and apply it this weekend?

“I’m becoming more comfortable with how the air works with these trucks. It’s unfortunate what happened in Dover – it was just a racing deal with Rico, my teammate. He was on the outside, and I hadn’t felt the air being taken away like that before as he was moving around me. I’ll know better next time. It’s just been tough this year. We were at Kansas racing for the win, strong at Martinsville, but on the outside – the wrong place at the wrong time. I’ve been taking a lot away from the mile-and-a-half tracks, and I feel like I’ve been acclimating to them well, but I’ve got to put myself in some better positions. I’ve been learning a lot, and I feel good about it. I’ve been working with the guys in the shop to build a better aero balance for myself – something I like – and I’ve just got to keep implementing it and making it better. We just need to keep building that notebook.”

News & Notes:

  • Chassis Information… The No. 41 ThorSport Racing team will utilize chassis No. 41 for Friday’s night’s Rattlesnake 400 at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS). This is the same chassis Rhodes piloted to a 17th-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway last month.
  • Texas-Sized Debut… Rhodes, who will be making his 11th career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) start on Friday night, will make his track debut in the 37th annual Rattlesnake 400 at TMS.
  • Intermediate Data… In three intermediate track starts in 2016, Rhodes has an Average start of 9.6, and an Average finish of 13.6.
  • In The Loop – 2016… According to NASCAR’s Loop Data statistics, Rhodes is ranked seventh in Laps in the Top 15 (735), 12th in Average Running Position (12.5), and 12th in Driver Rating (80.4).
  • Rookie Stripe… Rhodes is currently third in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings behind leader, William Byron after six of 23 races this season.
  • Race Rewind – Charlotte… Rhodes started 12th, when qualifying was cancelled due to weather, ran as high as fourth, and finished 17th.
  • Baby News… Crew chief Kevin Bellicourt, and his wife Jenifer, welcomed their second child Aleksander Reign Bellicourt, born on June 1, 2016 at 12:09pm. Baby boy Bellicourt weighed 9 pounds, 8 ounces and was 21” long.

Rhodes’ 2016 NCWTS Stats:

  • Starts: 6
  • Poles: 1 (Martinsville, 2016)
  • Top-5 Finishes: 0
  • Top-10 Finishes: 2 (Daytona, and Atlanta)
  • Best Finish: 6th (Atlanta)
  • Laps Completed: 919 of 989 (92.9%)
  • Laps Led: 47
  • Start: 10.7
  • Finish: 15.3

Rhodes’ Career NCWTS stats:

  • Starts: 10 since 2014
  • First full-time season: 2016
  • Poles: 1 (Martinsville, 2016)
  • Top-5 Finishes: 1 (Phoenix, 2014)
  • Top-10 Finishes: 5
  • Laps Completed: 1670 of 1771 (94.3%)
  • Laps Led: 47
  • First start: Martinsville (8th)
  • Best finish: 5th: Phoenix
  • Start: 9.8
  • Finish: 13.6