LOUISVILLE, Ky. (June 27th, 2013) – 16-year-old Louisville, Kentucky, native Ben Rhodes will be spending his off weekend from racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and Whelen All-American Series events to be a part of the NASCAR triple-header weekend at Kentucky Speedway, Thursday – Saturday, June 27th – 29th.  Rhodes, one of 13 national racers selected by the NASCAR Selection Committee to the 2013 – 2014 NASCAR Next program, an industry initiative to help spotlight NASCAR’s rising stars as well as demonstrating NASCAR’s commitment to the future of the sport by identifying young drivers to help shape and mold them to carry the sport in years to come, will be meeting fans in the infield Fan Zone and signing autographs all three days.

“Kentucky Speedway is my home track,” said Rhodes.  “While I haven’t been able to race on the big track, I have raced here in Legend Cars on the front stretch oval and have had a lot of success.  I always like coming here and cannot wait to be able to race on the big track in the future.”

 

Rhodes will have his Turner Scott Motorsports / Hawk-McCall Motorsports hauler in the infield Fan Zone near the start / finish line along with his No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet show car for fans to check out throughout the weekend.  He will also sign autographs on Thursday for the “UNOH 225” NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race from 6pm – 7pm, Friday for the “Feed the Children 300” NASCAR Nationwide Series race from 4:30pm – 5:30pm, and Saturday for the “Quaker State 400” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race from 2pm – 3pm.  All three autograph sessions will take place at his show car and hauler in the infield fan zone.

 

BR-Kentucky-hauler-frontstretch-062613Besides signing autographs, Rhodes will be giving out a special Louisville Slugger mini-bat with his car number and logo to the first 41 fans at each autograph session.

 

“We started giving out some bats a few races ago and fans really like them,” said Rhodes.  “Since Louisville Slugger bats are the best bats out there and made right in my hometown, we are giving away some to the fans that come over at the autograph sessions.  We also have some stickers and other things we might give away too.

 

“I love meeting NASCAR fans and talking with them.  I think we have the best sports fans in the world and they are the most passionate people out there.  I enjoy listening to their race stories and who they like to cheer for at the track.  These race fans allow us to do what we love to do as race car drivers.  This weekend allows me to relax away from my racing and enjoy three days of racing with my home state fans at Kentucky Speedway.”

 

Rhodes is also sponsored by Alliance Comfort Systems, Kentucky National Guard, Refrigerant Rescue, and Park Community Federal Credit Union.

 

For more information on the Kentucky Speedway race weekend as well as Fan Zone information, visit www.KentuckySpeedway.com.

 

For more information on Ben Rhodes, including media availability, contact Jason “Stix” Buckley of STIX FX Entertainment at (704) 519-5528 or [email protected], and make sure to keep up to date on his 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.

 

# # # #