LOUISVILLE, KY (September 17th, 2014) – 17-year-old Louisville, Kentucky, native and 2014 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion Ben Rhodes will make his ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards 1.5-mile superspeedway debut at Kentucky Speedway on Friday, September 19th, in the “ZLOOP 150” event, driving the No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet with Turner Scott Motorsports. Friday night’s race will mark the second start in the series for the NASCAR Next driver.

 

Last time out in ARCA … Rhodes made his ARCA debut on August 24th, 2014, at Madison International Speedway (WI). Driving for Venturini Motorsports and with virtually no track time in an ARCA car due to weather issues, he was able to race his way to an 11th-place finish.

 

First race after NKNPSE championship clinch … On September 6th, Rhodes raced to a fourth-place finish in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE) “Kevin Whitaker 140” at Greenville Pickens Speedway (SC), clinching the championship with one race left in the NKNPSE season. Rhodes has six poles, five wins, 11 top-five finishes and 13 top-10 finishes in 15 starts to date during his rookie year in the 2014 NKNPSE season, and Friday’s ARCA race will be his first race since earning the honors as the NKNPSE champion.

 

Kentucky short track experience … Even though he will make his 1.5-mile superspeedway debut at Kentucky Speedway Friday, Rhodes has a winning record at the track already. In 2011, he raced on the quarter-mile front-stretch oval in Legends Young Lions division competition, earning 13 victories in 13 starts. During that season of racing, Rhodes won 43 Legends Car Young Lions division races nationally, more than any of the over 1200 drivers internationally racing in Legend Cars.

 

Back in black for the No. 41 … During his NKNPSE career, Rhodes has been known for driving a white No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet. However, Friday Rhodes will switch back to a black scheme with Alpha, reminiscent of his NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock days. The Kentucky Speedway debut will also have familiar faces supporting Rhodes as it will be his first ARCA Racing start with his Turner Scott Motorsports team that helped earn him the 2014 NKNPSE championship.

 

Ben Rhodes Quotes

 

How does it feel to finally make your first start on the 1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway?  “I have been waiting my whole racing career to be able to race at my home state track. When I raced in Karts I used to drive by Kentucky Speedway all the time, and I did get to race there, but it was on the quarter-mile track in Legend Cars. I have been here for many years watching the ARCA and NASCAR races, so to be able to finally race in one is very cool. I really have to thank Alpha Energy Solutions and Turner Scott Motorsports for the opportunity to fulfill a dream of mine.”

 

What confidence does it give you to enter the race with TSM?  “I am going to the track with my K&N Pro Series East crew chief Mark McFarland and the rest of the team as well as with a Turner Scott Motorsports prepared Chevrolet. We have worked together all season, so it gives me a lot of confidence knowing we have great equipment and great communication going into my first superspeedway race.”

 

Sponsor Support

Ben Rhodes is sponsored by Alpha Energy Solutions, Alliance Comfort Systems, Kentucky National Guard, Park Community Credit Union, and Refrigerant Rescue.

 

Event Information

ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards

Friday, September 19th, 2014

“ZLOOP 150”

Kentucky Speedway (1.5-mile asphalt oval) – Sparta, Kentucky

Practice Session: 1pm – 2:30pm ET

Qualifying: 5pm ET

Green Flag (100 laps): 8pm ET

TV: Live on FOX Sports 1

(times listed in local track / eastern time zone)

www.arcaracing.com | www.kentuckyspeedway.com

 

Online and Social Media

Website: www.benrhodes.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com.benrhodesinc

Twitter: www.twitter.com/benrhodes

Instagram: www.instagram.com/benrhodes

YouTube: www.youtube.com/benrhodesinc

 

(PR updates posted on Rhodes’ Twitter during the race weekends)

 

Media Contact

Jason “Stix” Buckley

STIX FX Entertainment

[email protected]

(704) 519-5528

 

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