From ThorSport Racing PR:
Ben Rhodes, No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Toyota Tundra
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Texas Motor Speedway – Rattlesnake 400
Race No. 7 of 23
Team Information:
Started: 12th
Finished: 11th
Laps: 167/167
Laps Led: 0
Status: Running
Driver Points: 15th
Owner Points: 16th
Ben Rhodes Race Recap:
Ben Rhodes, driver of the No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Toyota Tundra, made his track debut in Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Rattlesnake 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. Starting from the 12th position, Rhodes lost ground early in the 167-lap event due to a “wicked loose” Toyota Tundra. Falling as far back as 19th in the first 50 laps, Rhodes would eventually go a lap down, but rally back to a solid 11th-place finish in the 37th annual event.
Crew chief Kevin Bellicourt brought the No. 41 machine to pit road under the races first caution at lap 52 for four tires, fuel, and a round of adjustments to aid in the handling. Over the ensuing 45 laps, Rhodes was able to race his way into the Lucky Dog position, and was awarded his lap back under the third caution of the night at lap 97. Still looking for more lateral grip, Rhodes was able to make his way through the field in the final 60 laps, running as high as eighth. Unfortunately, a long green flag run in the races final 43 laps would hinder Rhodes opportunity to advance into the top-10, due to his Tundra being better on the shorter runs. The ThorSport Racing driver would cross the stripe in the 11th position behind race winner, William Byron.
Quote:
“Our No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Toyota Tundra was pretty dialed out in the beginning – just with the sun shinning on the track, and the way the truck was set up for racing at night. Thank goodness the sun went down – we were able to get some more grip in the track. My guys get an A+ today on adjustments – they stayed with it the whole time. We ended up going a lap down just because we were so bad at one point, but we were able to tune it back in. I really wish we would have had a late race caution come out – all of our speed was on the short runs. We just couldn’t maintain speed on the longer runs. It felt like I was on the cushion all night long – running up by the wall – anywhere I could go to get grip. Not a bad run today though. We are heading to Iowa and Gateway the next couple weeks, and those are two races we’ve had circled on the calendar, and I’m looking forward to it – with my short track background. We’ve got some new trucks coming up that I’m really excited about.”
Notes:
- The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series had two practice sessions on Thursday afternoon in preparation for Friday night’s Rattlesnake 400 at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS). Rhodes was seventh, and fourth, respectively, in both sessions.
- In his TMS debut, the ThorSport Racing driver started 12th, ran as high as eighth, and finished 11th.
- In seven starts in 2016, Rhodes has led 47 laps en route to two top-10 finishes.
- In 11 career NCWTS starts, Rhodes has one pole (Martinsville), and has led 47 laps en route to one top-five (Phoenix, 2014), and five top-10 finishes.
- Rhodes’ ThorSport Racing teammates finished second (Crafton), ninth (Abreu), and 18th (Hayley).
- Up Next: The Speediatrics 200 on Saturday, June 17, 2016 at Iowa Speedway
About Alpha Energy Solutions:
Alpha Energy Solutions is a commercial and industrial service provider specializing in building automation, indoor energy solutions, chillers, boilers, electrical, equipment rental, food equipment service, piping, plumbing, sheet metal, refrigeration, insulation, and part sales. With more than 200 service personnel, Alpha is one of the largest self-performing service providers. Alpha’s highly skilled technicians operate quickly and efficiently in all areas of system maintenance and management. As members of the community they serve, Alpha’s associates are committed to job quality and customer satisfaction. To learn more, visit www.alphamechanicalservice.com
About ThorSport Racing:
ThorSport Racing, based in a state-of-the-art 100,000-square-foot facility in Sandusky, Ohio, is the longest-tenured NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. ThorSport Racing, which has competed in the NCWTS since 1996, will run the No. 88 Menards Toyota Tundra driven by two-time NCWTS drivers’ champion Matt Crafton, the No. 13 Cabinets by Hayley Toyota Tundra driven by Cameron Hayley, the No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Toyota Tundra driven by Ben Rhodes, and the No. 98 Safelite/CURB Records Toyota Tundra driven by Rico Abreu in 2016. To learn more visit www.ThorSport.com
ThorSport Racing Media Contact:
Jessica O’Brien
Phone: 803-240-5807
Email: [email protected]