Ben Rhodes – 2017 Dover Recap

Recap:

Ben Rhodes, driver of the No. 27 Safelite AutoGlass Toyota Tundra, made his third career start at Dover (Del.) International Speedway (DIS) in Friday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Bar Harbor 200. Starting sixth, Rhodes finished seventh in Stage 1, third in Stage 2, and led a race-high 71 laps in the final Stage. Unfortunately, pit strategy by the race leaders would force the ThorSport Racing driver to cross the stripe in the fourth position behind race winner, Johnny Sauter.

The top-five result was Rhodes track-best finish in three starts, and also his season-best finish.

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Quote:

“Our No. 27 Safelite Toyota Tundra was really fast today. The track was coming to us, even though we played it conservative all weekend long. This was probably the most conservative race I’ve ever had in my racing career. The fact that we almost won it, was pretty incredible. I feel like this is big picture racing for us – we’re just trying to get some points back after some DNF’s this year, not from our doing, just bad luck. Had things played out a little differently, and that caution not come out with the 29 when he lost a tire, I think we could have very well won this race. Due to pit strategy, we had to take the ‘lucky dog,’ and drive our way back to the front. Unfortunately, once we got in traffic, we were just too tight, and again, just staying conservative to ensure we had a good points day.”

Team Information:
Started: 6th
Finished: 4th
Laps: 200/200
Laps Led: 71
Status: Running
Driver Points: 4th
Owner Points: 5th

Notes:

• The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) had two practice sessions on Thursday afternoon in preparation for Friday’s Bar Harbor 200 at DIS. Ben Rhodes was second and 19th-quick, respectively, in both sessions.
• Making his third start at DIS, Rhodes started sixth, led the field once for a race-high 71 laps, and finished fourth in the 200-lap event. The top-five result was the Safelite AutoGlass drivers track-best finish, and season-best finish.
• The ThorSport Racing driver earned bonus points in Stages 1 and 2 at DIS, for finishing inside the top-10.
• In three starts at the Monster Mile, Rhodes has led 71 laps en route to one top-five finish (2017).
• After six starts in 2017, the Safelite AutoGlass driver has led 116 laps en route to two top-five, and three top-10 finishes.
• In 33 career starts, Rhodes has one pole (Martinsville-1, 2016), and has led 171 laps en route to five top-five, and 11 top-10 finishes.
• Rhodes’ ThorSport Racing teammates finished third (Enfinger), 11th (Crafton), and 16th (Coughlin).
• Up Next: The Rattlesnake 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, June 9 at 8:00pm ET.