[custom_frame_left][/custom_frame_left] Marcos Ambrose Motorsport driver Ben Rhodes outraced some of the best in the business aboard his Stanley Ford, finishing sixth in the Denny Hamlin Short Track Show Down.

Held at Richmond International Raceway as a curtain raiser to this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event, Rhodes qualified strongly in 13th amidst a star studded 36 car field, with the host for the evening Denny Hamlin starting from 19th.

For Rhodes, the result on a big stage in front of a live television audience provides a spur on to bigger and better things.

“Just to be invited here to race in the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown is a great honour for a great cause,” Rhodes said.

“The Marcos Ambrose Motorsport crew gave me a quick car here tonight; it really gave me the confidence to go head to head with the NASCAR stars racing out there.

“It’s a shame about the last restart, I think we had something for the front runners, but sixth is still a very satisfying result.

“I can’t wait to get back out there and build on this form.”

Team principal Marcos Ambrose meanwhile watched the race from the SPEED commentary box, and he was suitably impressed with his charge.

Ben did a fantastic job, this event is the pinnacle of late model stock car racing, and he held his own against some of the very best in the business.

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“This season Ben has been on a big learning curve, and if he keeps on developing along this path, he will definitely be a star of the future.

“The Stanley Ford looked great out on the track, and the crew made all of the right calls setting the car up.”

The 75 lap race was barely underway when a multi-car first lap crash occurred behind Rhodes.[custom_frame_right shadow=”on”][/custom_frame_right]

From the first restart, Rhodes steady progress throughout the first 35 laps, creeping into eighth position before the second caution waved on lap 36, when a competitor blew an engine.

In the six lap run to the mid-race break, Rhodes continued his forward progress, edging his way into fourth position behind Tony Stewart, Jeff Burton and pole sitter Greg Edwards.

During the five minute stoppage, the Marcos Ambrose Motorsport fitted four new tyres to the car, with Rhodes able to hold off the advances of Joey Logano at the resumption to remain in fourth position.

The caution lights flashed on lap 57 of 75 when Pietro Fittipaldi, grandson of legendary racer Emerson Fittipaldi, smacked the wall in turn two.

From the restart, Jeff Burton from second position, and directly ahead of Rhodes on the racetrack, struggled to launch with a transmission issue, boxing the number 91 machine in.

Rhodes however managed to recover in sixth position, and held onto his place in the scramble to the chequered flag.

The race was won by reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Stewart, ahead of Edwards, Brandon Butler, Burton and Logano. Other name drivers who did not make it to chequered flag included Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Aric Almirola.

Marcos Ambrose Motorsport returns to action tomorrow night at Kingsport Speedway, with Clayton Pyne making an appearance in the Whelan All American Series race, with Ambrose will get his turn to shine on Saturday night in the Richmond 400.

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Denny Hamlin Short Track Show Down Results

1. Tony Stewart

2. Greg Edwards

3. Brandon Butler

4. Jeff Burton

5. Joey Logano

6. Ben Rhodes

7. Darrell Wallace Jnr

8. C.E. Falk

9. Jason White

10. Garrett Campbell

 

More information on Marcos Ambrose Motorsport can be found on the team’s all-new website, www.marcosambrosemotorsport.com.