Sounding Off – Ben Rhodes:
You had a solid run at Eldora last year, in your debut, until a mechanical issue. Is this a track you are looking forward to getting back to?
“I feel so much better going into Eldora this year, and I honestly think we have a shot to win it. We had a solid run last year, and my crew chief has been there – worked on a team that has won there – so I feel like I can get there, and get a win. I’m not the best with the cushion, so maybe if the track is working in my favor, and there’s not a big cushion, I think we will be okay.”
Team Stats:
Driver Point Standings: 5th
Owner Point Standings: 6th
2017 Stage Points: 85
2017 Playoff Points: 1 (Kentucky)
News & Notes:
- Chassis Information…The No. 27 ThorSport Racing (TSR) team will utilize chassis No. 11 for Wednesday night’s Eldora Dirt Derby at Eldora Speedway in New Weston, OH. This is the same chassis Rhodes piloted at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, and Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis, earlier this season.
- Take me back – Eldora, 2016… Making his track debut, Rhodes was fifth in single truck Qualifying. Lining-up first in Qualifying Race No. 5, the TSR driver finished first. Starting fifth in the main event, Rhodes ran as high as second, and finished 23rd, due to a radiator problem in the 4th-annual event at the “Big E.”
- In the Loop – 2017… According to NASCAR’s Loop Data statistics, Rhodes ranks fourth in Fastest Laps Run (100), and Laps Led (121), fifth in Average Running Position (9.7), and Driver Rating (94.5), and seventh in Laps in the Top 15 (1259).
- Welcome Home… Safelite AutoGlass, the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services, is based in Columbus, OH., about 100 miles from Eldora Speedway.
- Rearview Mirror – Kentucky… Making his second start at Kentucky Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS), Rhodes started fifth, led the field once for five laps, and finished 27th, due to an early accident on lap 41 of 150.
- Welcome Home… Safelite AutoGlass, the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services, is based in Columbus, OH., about 100 miles from Eldora Speedway.
- Catch Ben at Eldora… Rhodes, along with his ThorSport Racing teammates, will participate in the NCWTS autograph session from 3:00-3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, July 19 in the Multi-purpose Building outside Turns 3 and 4 at Eldora Speedway.
Rhodes 2017 NCWTS Stats:
- Starts: 10
- Laps Completed: 1536 of 1658 (92.6%)
- Laps Led: 121
- Best Start: 5th (Charlotte & Kentucky)
- Best Finish: 4th (Atlanta & Dover)
- Top-5 Finishes: 3
- Top-10 Finishes: 5
- Average Start: 8.9
- Average Finish: 12.5
Rhodes Career NCWTS Stats:
- Starts: 37 since 2014
- First Full-time Season: 2016
- First Start: Martinsville-1, 2014 (8th)
- Poles: 1 (Martinsville-1, 2016)
- Top-5 Finishes: 6
- Top-10 Finishes: 13
- Laps Completed: 5449
- Laps Led: 176
- Best Finish: 2nd; Gateway (2016)
- Start: 9.4
- Finish: 14.5
Eldora Stages:
- Stage 1 – 40 laps (concludes at lap 40)
- Stage 2 – 50 laps (concludes at lap 90)
- Stage 3 – 60 laps (concludes at lap 150)
Broadcast Schedule – Eldora:
Wednesday, July 19:
5:00 p.m. NCWTS Qualifying (Single Vehicle/Two Laps) – FOX Sports 1
7:30 p.m. NCWTS Qualifying Races (5 Races/10 Laps Each) – FOX Sports 2
9:00 p.m. NCWTS Setup Show – FOX Business
9:30 p.m. Eldora Dirt Derby (150 Laps/75 Miles) – FOX Business
*FOX Business (Direct TV) – Channel 359
*FOX Business (Dish Network) – Channel 206
Race Information:
Date: Wednesday, July 19
Time: 9:30pm ET on FOX Business, SiriusXM & MRN
Track: half-mile clay oval
Distance: 150 Laps, 75 miles
Social: @EldoraSpeedway, #EldoraDirtDerbyV