LOUISVILLE, KY (July 30th, 2014) – NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE) championship points leader and Louisville, Kentucky, native Ben Rhodes heads to Iowa Speedway to compete in the “Autolite Iridium XP 150” East-West combo event on Friday, August 1st, which is also the 12th race in the 16-race season of the NKNPSE. The 17-year-old NASCAR Next driver leads in the rookie of the year standings and is looking to put his No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet with Turner Scott Motorsports back in victory lane at the Newton, Iowa, 0.875-mile asphalt oval, a feat he accomplished back in May.

 

Last Time Out … Rhodes qualified sixth, racing his way to a third-place finish in the “JEGS 150 presented by Germain Toyota” at the 0.333-mile asphalt oval of Columbus Motor Speedway in Columbus, Ohio.

 

Championship Standings … The podium finish at Columbus Motor Speedway helped Rhodes maintain his 62-point lead in the championship standings. He also increased his lead in the rookie of the year standings to 29 (up from 22).

 

2014 Stat Tracker … After 11 races of the 16-race season, Rhodes has an average starting spot of 2.2 (five poles, four outside poles, a fifth and a sixth) and an average finish of 4.9.  He has completed all 1559 laps to date (the only driver to do so in 2014), leading 732 of them (47-percent of the laps).  He has five victories, nine top-five finishes and nine top-10 finishes.

 

Iowa Speedway History … Rhodes will make his fourth NKNPSE start at Iowa Speedway. In 2013 he finished third and eighth among the East drivers in the East-West combo event, and in 2014 he went to victory lane, his second-career series win.

 

Ben Rhodes Quotes

 

What is your confidence level going back to Iowa after winning there in May?  “My entire Turner Scott Motorsports No. 41 team is excited to go back to Iowa Speedway. Our win in May was pretty big and this is the first time we are going back to a track we have previously won on this year. We took some great notes after that race and we are heading back with some knowledge on how to make our car better during the race, but so are all the other teams. Still, we should have a fast Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet, so we will see what happens on Friday.”

 

What would it mean to you to win Iowa again?  “It would mean a lot for a few reasons. Winning there in May was a big accomplishment for my Alpha team and to go back and repeat that effort would be huge. Also, it is an East-West combination event, and I would like to win it again for the East. We have a friendly rivalry with the West drivers for these two races at Iowa Speedway and I know they will be gunning for the top spot too.”

 

With five races left, are you taking it easy and points racing yet?  “Not really. The most points you can get in a race is leading all the laps and winning, and that is our goal each race, but when we get put in a position where we aren’t able to win, we make the most of the situation to get the most points. When you finish up front the points take care of themselves.”

 

Sponsor Support

In 2014, Ben Rhodes is sponsored by Alpha Energy Solutions, Alliance Comfort Systems, Kentucky National Guard, Park Community Credit Union, and Refrigerant Rescue.

 

Event Information

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East – Race 12 of 16

Friday, August 1st, 2014

“Autolite Iridium XP 150”

Iowa Speedway (0.875-mile asphalt oval) – Newton, Iowa

First Practice Session: 11am – 12:30pm CT

Final Practice Session: 1:30pm – 2:30pm CT

Autograph Session: 3:15pm – 4:15pm CT

Qualifying: 5pm CT

Green Flag (150 laps): 8pm CT

(times listed in local track / central time zone)

TV Coverage: Friday, August 8th at 11am ET / 10am CT on FOX Sports 1

www.nascarhometracks.com | www.iowaspeedway.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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