Ben Rhodes Newport Speedway Race Preview

UARA-STARS Late Model Stock Event on Saturday, June 16th, 2012, at Newport Speedway (TN)

After a weekend away from the track, 15-year-old Kentucky racer Ben Rhodes will be getting back behind the wheel of the #9 Stanley / Alpha Energy Solutions Ford Fusion for Marcos Ambrose Motorsport at Newport Speedway (TN) for the UARA-STARS Late Model Stock event on Saturday, June 16th, 2012. The 150-lap race is the sixth stop on the tour and first of two times UARA will race at Newport Speedway in 2012. Rhodes currently sits fifth in the series points standings, 81 points out of first place.

Rhodes on racing at Newport: “I am looking forward to get back to Newport Speedway. My first race in the UARA-STARS was last year in October there. We qualified fourth and I was just riding early saving tires, but two cars got together in front of me and I had nowhere to go. The damage was terminal, so we had to park it for the rest of the race. I enjoyed the track though and have been waiting to get back there to race it again.”

Rhodes on Testing at Newport: “Last weekend we tested at the track. The #9 Stanley / Alpha Energy Solutions Ford Fusion was really good on the clock and very comfortable. We had a minor issue that we worked through with brakes, but the guys took the car back to the shop after the test and found the problem. With as well as the test went and the Marcos Ambrose Motorsport team fixing the issue, we are ready to get back to the track this weekend to race.”

Back at the Summer Shootout in a Different Role: “Last year I raced in the Summer Shootout Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway in a Legends Car. This past Tuesday I went back to the track, but this time with LegendsNation.com as a media intern to see and understand what happens on the other side of things. I have a lot of respect for what the media does at the race track and it shows all the effort they put in. It was a great experience and helped me understand more what vital role they play in promoting the sport.”

Race Details
UARA-STARS Late Model Stock – 150 Laps
Saturday, June 16th, 2012
Newport Speedway (TN)

Qualifying: 5:30pm Eastern
Autograph Session: 7:00pm – 7:45pm Eastern
Green Flag: 8:00pm Eastern (local divisions also racing)

Broadcast: Live pay-per-view on www.MotorsportsBroadcasting.com ($9.95)
Ben Rhodes Race Day Updates: www.Twitter.com/BenRhodesInc

Ben Rhodes 2012 UARA-STARS Stats
Starts: 5
Wins: 0
Top 5: 1
Top 10: 3
Best Finish: 3rd (Hickory on March 17th)
Current Points Position: 5th (-81 points)

Ben Rhodes Fast Facts and Career Milestones
Birth date: February 21st, 1997
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky

•  2004 – 2009: Raced Go-Karts; won multiple asphalt and dirt championships
• 2008 – 2009: Raced Bandoleros; 2009 Kentucky (state) and F.A.S.T. Midwest Series Champion
•  2010: Raced Legends Cars; won 10 poles at Kentucky Speedway; six national victories
•  2011: Earned 43 Legends Cars Young Lions division victories (more than any other 1200+ Legends drivers internationally); Winter Heat Series Champion; Winter Nationals Champion; F.A.S.T. Midwest Champion; finished third in Legends Big Money 100 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (only non-Pro in top 10)
• 2011: Made Late Model (Stock) debut with Fat Head Racing; five top-10 qualifying efforts; three top-10 finishes
•  2012: Racing UARA-STARS Late Model Stock (full season) / NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock (various events); six top-six finishes in nine starts; earned Rookie of the Race in first UARA-STARS event (Hickory Motor Speedway)

Web: www.MarcosAmbroseMotorsport.com

High-Res Photos: http://www.marcosambrosemotorsport.com/marcos-ambrose-motorsport-pr-photos.html