After Ben Rhodes took the checkered-flag first in the Legends Young Lions division regional qualifier event at Anderson Motor Speedway (SC) on Friday, May 6th, another competitor protested the right side tires Rhodes used on his car to win the race. On Friday, May 13th, Rhodes received a letter from INEX, the sanctioning body for Legends Car racing, informing him that the tires were tested by an independent lab, and were deemed legal (not altered) according to the rules of the series.
Earlier this year, the same competitor used the series rules to “claim” the engine Rhodes used to drive to victory at Auburndale Speedway (FL) and the eventual 2011 Winternationals Series championship.
“We did not do anything illegal to our tires, so the tire protest, just like the engine claim earlier this year, did not have us concerned,” said Rhodes. “Our team spends a lot of time testing to make sure that when the green flag drops our car is set up appropriately for the track conditions. We come to the track prepared and it shows in our efforts on the track.”