15-Year-Old Marcos Ambrose Motorsport Driver to Sign Autographs at Home Track
LOUISVILLE, KY (June 26th, 2012) – 15-year-old Kentucky racer Ben Rhodes, driver of the #9 Stanley / Alpha Energy Solutions Ford Fusion for Marcos Ambrose Motorsport in Late Model competition, will be a part of the NASCAR triple-header weekend at his home track of Kentucky Speedway. Rhodes will be meeting fans and signing autographs Wednesday through Saturday, June 27th through 30th, in downtown Carrollton for Race Fest as well as inside Kentucky Speedway in the Fan Zone.
“On my weekend off from racing the #9 Stanley / Alpha Energy Solutions Ford Fusion for Marcos Ambrose Motorsport, I am thrilled to be a part of the festivities at my home track,” said Rhodes. “I love meeting fans, so this will be a fun weekend.”
Rhodes, a resident of Louisville, grew up racing Karts on dirt and asphalt, winning multiple races and championships from 2004 – 2009. From 2008 – 2009, he transitioned to the INEX Bandoleros, winning the 2009 Kentucky state championship in the Bandits division as well as the F.A.S.T. Midwest championship. In 2010, Rhodes moved up to the highly-competitive Legends Car ranks. 2011 was his break-out year, winning 43 Legends races in the Young Lions division, more than any other Legends racers (over 1200 drivers internationally), which included 13 victories on the Kentucky Speedway quarter-mile front-stretch oval (undefeated in Young Lions competition).
With multiple victories and championships to his credit in Legends Cars during the 2011 season, Rhodes caught the eye of NASCAR Sprint Cup racer Marcos Ambrose, and after a handful of Late Model Stock starts during the back half of 2011, Ambrose signed Rhodes to drive his Late Model during the 2012 racing season under the Marcos Ambrose Motorsport banner in select NASCAR Whelen All-American Series events as well as the entire UARA-STARS Late Model Stock tour.
During the 2012 season to date, Rhodes has raced the #9 Stanley / Alpha Energy Solutions Ford Fusion to seven top-six finishes in 11 starts. He was honored with the Rookie of the Race Award in his first UARA-STARS start of the season at Hickory Motor Speedway (NC) in March, and earned his first pole position in the series in May at Kingsport Speedway (TN). Rhodes also raced to a sixth-place finish in the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at Richmond International Raceway (VA) in April, the youngest driver to race in the invite-only event, and most recently he led over 50 laps in the UARA event at Hickory Motor Speedway on June 23rd, finishing second after a wild battle to the checkered flag.
“It has been a great season so far for the Marcos Ambrose Motorsport team,” said Rhodes. “I love being behind the wheel racing, but I am excited to enjoy this weekend outside of the race car celebrating NASCAR racing in my home state with the fans and cheering on Marcos Ambrose on Saturday in the Sprint Cup race.”
On Wednesday, Rhodes and the #9 Stanley / Alpha Energy Solutions Ford Fusion will be at Race Fest in Carrollton, Kentucky, from 5PM – 8PM with Rhodes signing autographs for the fans. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Rhodes and the car will be inside the Alpha Energy Solutions tent in the Fan Zone inside of Kentucky Speedway. The car will be on display all weekend with Rhodes signing autographs on Thursday from 4:00PM – 6:00PM, Friday from 2:30PM – 4:00PM and 5:00PM – 6:00PM, and Saturday from 12:00PM – 2:00PM and 3:00PM – 5:00PM.
For information on Carrollton’s Race Fest, visit www.carrollcountyky.com/coc/?p=429. For more information on Kentucky Speedway’s Fan Zone, visit www.kentuckyspeedway.com.
For media opportunities and more information on Ben Rhodes, please contact Jason “Stix” Buckley of STIX FX Entertainment at (704) 519-5528 or [email protected], and make sure to keep up to date on Ben Rhodes’ racing career at www.benrhodesinc.com, “like” him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/benrhodesinc and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/benrhodesinc.
High-Res Photos: http://www.marcosambrosemotorsport.com/marcos-ambrose-motorsport-pr-photos.html