Ben Rhodes Race Preview – UARA-STARS Late Model Stock Event on Friday, June 1st, 2012, at Anderson Motor Speedway (SC)
Kentucky native Ben Rhodes is ready to get back in to his #9 Stanley / Alpha Energy Solutions Ford Fusion for Marcos Ambrose Motorsport at Anderson Motor Speedway (SC) for the UARA-STARS Late Model Stock event on Friday, June 1st, 2012. The “Toyota of Easley 150” is the fifth stop on the tour and second race in South Carolina during the early part of the 2012 season. Rhodes currently sits sixth in the series points standings, 71 points out of first place heading into the summer stretch.
Rhodes on racing at Anderson: “I really like the Anderson Motor Speedway track. A few years ago they made some improvements to the surface, but it is still rough on tires, which puts a premium on saving tires for the end of the race. It is a fast track and I am looking at having a strong run with the #9 Stanley / Alpha Energy Solutions Ford Fusion.”
Experience at Getting Around the Track: “I have raced at Anderson Motor Speedway in a Legends Car. I raced the INEX Regional Qualifier in May, 2011, and ended up winning. While it is different racing around the track in a Late Model versus a Legends Car, knowing the track’s characteristics will help during the event this weekend.”
Testing at Anderson: “We brought our car here last Thursday to get ready for the race. During practice we were pretty fast and used the session to test out various things with the car. Billy Smith (crew chief) and the Marcos Ambrose Motorsport team got the car really comfortable for me, but there are a few things we are going to try out this weekend before we hit the track for the race. We got a great baseline though so we should be good off the truck.”
Off-Series Weekend Race at Hickory: “Since we haven’t raced since the beginning of May, we decided to break out the #9 Stanley / Alpha Energy Solutions Ford Fusion and race it at Hickory Motor Speedway (NC) this past weekend in a local 100-lap Late Model Stock race. We started fourth and ended up fourth in a rough race, but it was great knowledge going into the summer racing as it was really hot at the track. We learned a few things for when we go back there in June for the UARA race.”
Race Details
UARA-STARS Late Model Stock – 150 Laps
Friday, June 1st, 2012
Anderson Motor Speedway (SC)
Qualifying: 5:30pm Eastern
Autograph Session: 7:15pm – 7:55pm 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: 4
Wins: 0
Top 5: 1
Top 10: 2
Best Finish: 3rd (Hickory on March 17th)
Current Points Position: 6th (-71 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); five top-six finishes in eight starts; earned Rookie of the Race in first UARA-STARS event (Hickory Motor Speedway)
On the Net
Web: www.BenRhodesInc.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/BenRhodesInc
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/BenRhodesInc
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/BenRhodesInc
Team Information
Web: www.MarcosAmbroseMotorsport.com
High-Res Photos: http://www.marcosambrosemotorsport.com/marcos-ambrose-motorsport-pr-photos.html