From ThorSport Racing PR –
Team Info/Stats:
Crew Chief: Eddie Troconis
Driver Point Standings: 6th
Owner Point Standings: 7th
Spotter: Lloyd Garner
News and Notes:
• This Week’s No. 41 Ford F-150… The No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Ford F-150 team will unload chassis No. 37, “Marshmallow,” for Friday’s NCWTS Stratosphere 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS). A surviving chassis from the June 2016 fire, and nick-named for its appearance once pulled from the building, the truck has accumulated one win (Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 2017), two top-fives (Dover International Speedway, 2017 and Iowa Speedway, 2016) and one top-10 finish (Eldora Speedway, 2016) in its history.
• Defending the Win… Behind the wheel of “Marshmallow,” Rhodes drove to Victory Lane last season in Las Vegas, after starting sixth and leading 20 laps, en route to his first career NCWTS win. Looking to repeat, Rhodes heads to Sin City with the momentum of two top-five finishes in his first two races at Daytona International Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway.
• Catch Rhodes in Las Vegas… Rhodes will join fellow ThorSport Racing teammates for the NCWTS autograph session in the Neon Garage at LVMS from 1-1:45 p.m. PT Friday, March 2.
Chatting with Ben Rhodes…
What keys to success did you learn from last year’s Las Vegas win that you’ll tap into this weekend, and what are you most looking forward to in Sin City?
“The biggest key to success I think I learned in 2017 is the transition that the track goes through, and how your Ford F-150 needs to be set up during the day in practice to be fast at nighttime during the race. I feel like we have a lot of knowledge on how to make the most amount of grip during that daytime to nighttime transition. I’m also looking forward to going back to a place I have such great memories at, including my very first win in the NCWTS. It’s always going to stand out to me, and I’ll have a nostalgic feeling returning to Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend.”
Race 3 of 23: Las Vegas
Track: 1.5-mile tri-oval
Distance: 134 laps, 201 miles
Format: Three Stages (Stage 1: 40 Laps, Stage 2: 40 Laps, Final Stage: 54 Laps, ending at Lap 134.)
Ford Fact – Las Vegas Motor Speedway
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) goes to 20 different race tracks during their 23-race, nine-month racing season. Among those tracks, Ford-powered F-150’s have found victory lane at 15 different racing venues, including Las Vegas Motor Speedway, site of Friday night’s Stratosphere 200. Of their 95 victories, Ford Performance is credited with four wins at the 1.5-mile track; Joe Ruttman (1997), Greg Biffle (1999), Travis Kvapil (2007), and Tyler Reddick (2016). Additionally, Ford is credited with three poles at LVMS; Bryan Reffner (1996), Travis Kvapil (2007), and Ryan Blaney (2014).
Catch the Action
Friday, March 2 | 9 p.m. ET | FOX Sports 1 – Stratosphere 200