Ben Rhodes No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet Preview: Virginia International Raceway

LOUISVILLE, KY (August 12th, 2014) – NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE) points leader and 17-year-old Louisville, Kentucky, native Ben Rhodes will head to Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia, to race in the “Biscuitville 125” road course race on Saturday, August 16th. The NASCAR Next driver will race the No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet with Turner Scott Motorsports on the 2.25-mile track in the 14th race of the 16-race NKNPSE season.

Last time out … Rhodes started seventh in his first-career stock car road course start in the “Bully Hill Vineyards 125” at Watkins Glen International (NY) on Friday, August 8th, only to get spun early in the race following a restart at lap seven. Battling from the back of the pack, Rhodes was able to survive the 53-lap event to finish third.

Adding up the points … The Watkins Glen podium finish helped Rhodes extend his points lead in the championship standings from 71 points to 75 with three races remaining in the 2014 season. He also increased his lead in the rookie of the year standings to 34 (up from 32).

2014 Stat Tracker … After 13 races of the 16-race season, Rhodes has an average starting spot of 2.7 (five poles, four outside poles, a fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh) and an average finish of 4.9. He has completed all 1762 laps to date (the only driver to do so in 2014), leading 757 of them (43-percent of the laps). He has five victories, 10 top-five finishes and 11 top-10 finishes.

Back to school in Kentucky … Once he completed his junior year of high school in May, Rhodes temporarily moved to North Carolina for the summer to work in the shop alongside his Turner Scott Motorsports team members. On Monday, August 11th, Rhodes was back in the classroom at Holy Cross High School in Louisville, Kentucky, to begin his senior year. Rhodes has a 4.0 GPA throughout his high school years to date and in 2014 was selected to be a member of the National Honor Society.

Ben Rhodes Quotes

Talk about your recent test at VIR. “A few weeks back all the Turner Scott Motorsports K&N drivers tested at VIR. That was my first time to sit in a K&N car and turn laps on a road course. Before we could really tune on the car, I had to get comfortable with racing on the road course, including my braking points and shifting points. We then tuned on the car, and by the end of the test Mark McFarland (crew chief) and my Alpha team had my car pretty fast. I think we will have a great showing this weekend.”

What can you take from last week’s race at Watkins Glen to apply to this race? “Even though the road courses are completely different, I really got comfortable with the feel of the car over an entire race at Watkins Glen and how it handles once the tires got worn and the fuel load reduced. We are bringing the same car to VIR this weekend, so we should have a fast Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet.”

Talk about your summer in North Carolina and going back to school in Kentucky. “It was extremely educational to go into the TSM shop every day to help work on my race cars with my team. I think it helped us out on race day with me learning various things about the car in the shop. I had a great time in North Carolina, but I am happy to be back in Kentucky and to continue my high school education. Both school and racing are important to me, and it can sometimes be difficult to balance both, but I have great people around me supporting my education and career, so that makes it easier.”

Sponsor Support

In 2014, Ben Rhodes is sponsored by Alpha Energy Solutions, Alliance Comfort Systems, Kentucky National Guard, Park Community Credit Union, and Refrigerant Rescue.

Event Information

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East – Race 14 of 16

Saturday, August 16th, 2014

“Biscuitville 125”

Virginia International Raceway (2.25-mile road course) – Alton, Virginia

First Practice Session: 9am – 9:45am

Final Practice Session: 10:25am – 11:10am

Autograph Session: 11:30am – 12:30pm

Qualifying: 1:40pm

Green Flag (55 laps): 4:35pm

(times listed in local track / eastern time zone)

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