Team Information:
Crew Chief: Kevin Bellicourt
Manufacturer: Toyota
Engine: Triad Racing Technologies
2016 Driver Points: 13th
2016 Owner Points: 15th
Sounding Off – Ben Rhodes:
“Texas Motor Speedway was certainly a challenge the last time we ran there, but I had a lot of fun learning the track. We had a decent run, but my crew chief and I are really looking to improve on that, and have a good day in our No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Toyota Tundra. We both feel that we have a better understanding of what we need to work on during the day, to be good at night. We are also bringing a different truck, and a different setup to hopefully have some great speed.”
News & Notes:
- Chassis Chatter…The No. 41 ThorSport Racing team will unload chassis No. 53 for Friday night’s Longhorn 350 at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS). This is the same chassis Rhodes piloted at Atlanta Motor Speedway (6th), Kansas Speedway (18), Eldora Speedway (23rd), Michigan International Speedway (6th), and Las Vegas Motor Speedway (12th) earlier this season.
- Texas Sized Stats…Rhodes, who will be making his 25th career NCWTS start on Friday night, will make his second career start at TMS in the Longhorn 350. In his debut earlier this season, the ThorSport Racing driver started 12th, ran as high as second, and finished 11th.
- Intermediate Track Facts… In seven career NCWTS starts on an Intermediate-style track (1.5-miles in length), Rhodes has one top-10 (Atlanta), and three top-15 finishes (Texas, Kentucky, Vegas).
- Rookie Stripe… Rhodes is currently fourth in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings after 20 of 23 races this season.
- Race Rewind – Martinsville… Making his third career start at Martinsville Speedway in the NCWTS, Rhodes started 14th, ran as high as fourth, and finished 21st, due to a late-race pit stop for no oil pressure late in the 200-lap event.
Rhodes Texas NCWTS Stats:
- Starts: 1
- Poles: 0
- Started: 12th
- Finished: 11th
- Laps Completed: 167 of 167 (100%)
- Laps Led: 0
Rhodes 2016 NCWTS Stats:
- Starts: 20
- Poles: 1 (Martinsville, 2016)
- Top-5 Finishes: 2
- Top-10 Finishes: 5
- Laps Completed: 2731 of 3008 (90.8%)
- Laps Led: 55
- Start: 9.8
- Finish: 15.8
Rhodes Career NCWTS stats:
- Starts: 24 since 2014
- First full-time season: 2016
- Poles: 1 (Martinsville, 2016)
- Top-5 Finishes: 3
- Top-10 Finishes: 8
- Laps Completed: 3482
- Laps Led: 55
- First start: Martinsville, 2014 (8th)
- Best finish: 2nd (Gateway, 2016)
- Start: 9.6
- Finish: 15.0
Race Information:
Date: Friday, November 4, 2016
Time: 8:30pm ET on FOX, MRN Radio & SiriusXM Channel 90
Track: 1.5-mile oval
Distance: 147 laps/220.5-miles