Team Information:
Crew Chief: Kevin Bellicourt
Manufacturer: Toyota
Engine: Triad Racing Technologies
2016 Driver Point Standings: 8th
2016 Owner Point Standings: 8th
Sounding Off – Ben Rhodes:
Martinsville Speedway is the first short-track race on the schedule. Is it something you’re looking forward to?
“Martinsville Speedway, it’s the type of track I grew up racing on – the paperclip-style racing, the short-track style racing, and I’m looking forward to getting back to that, the short tracks. The high-speed stuff is fun, but the beating and banging is what I know, and I think the fans love it too, there is always a great turn out there. Surprisingly enough, you do feel the aero at Martinsville, which is crazy only being a half-mile track, and I’m excited for it. I know ThorSport Racing has a good program there – they have some wins, and their trucks are always fast, and always at the front of the pack.”
Would you consider Martinsville Speedway a mentally draining track?
“It’s mentally draining pretty much everywhere now, because the speeds are so fast – you’re concentrating on so much, and even more so in the pack at Martinsville. You are constantly checking your mirrors, there’s beating and banging, and a lot is going on.”
News & Notes:
• Chassis Information… The No. 41 ThorSport Racing team will utilize chassis No. 49 for Saturday’s Alpha Energy Solutions 250 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. This is the same chassis that Cameron Hayley piloted at both Martinsville Speedway events in 2015, Gateway (Ill.) Motorsports Park, and Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Hayley’s success in this chassis includes two top-five finishes; third at Martinsville (March), and fifth at Gateway.
• Martinsville Minute… Rhodes made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, March 30, 2014 with Turner Scott Motorsports.
• Rookie Stripe… Rhodes continues to lead the 2016 Sunoco Rookie of the Year battle with 30 points, five points ahead of second place, Grant Enfinger going into the third race of the season at Martinsville Speedway.
• Hot Diggity Dog… During the March 22nd Media Day at Martinsville Speedway, Rhodes tried, and enjoyed, the famous Martinsville Speedway hot dog for the first time. “It was delicious. I’m mad I never had one before now,” said Rhodes.
• First in Quality, First in Service, First for You… In conjunction with the entitlement sponsorship of the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 on Saturday, the race sponsor will have over 240 guests in the grandstands and in a suite during the 250-lap event to support Rhodes and his No. 41 ThorSport Racing team.
• Atlanta Recap… Rhodes started seventh and finished sixth in his track debut at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway.
Rhodes’ Martinsville Speedway stats:
• One start (March, 2014)
• Started: 12th
• Finished: 8th
• Laps completed: 256 of 256 (100%)
• 0 laps led
Rhodes’ Career NCWTS stats:
• Starts: 6 since 2014
• First full-time season: 2016
• Top-5 Finishes: 1 (Phoenix, 2014)
• Top-10 Finishes: 5
• Laps Completed: 981 of 1012 (96.9%)
• Laps Led: 0
• First start: Martinsville (8th)
• Best start: 4th: Phoenix
• Best finish: 5th: Phoenix
• Avg. Start: 10.8
• Avg. Finish: 9.5