15-year-old Louisville, Kentucky, native Ben Rhodes will compete in the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at Richmond International Raceway (VA) on Thursday, April 26th, 2012. Rhodes, driver of the #91 Stanley / Alpha Energy Solutions Ford Fusion, moved to Late Models at the end of 2011 after a successful tour in Legends Car competition where he won 43 Young Lions division features during the season, more than any of the 1200-plus drivers in the world. In 2012, he has been racing under the Marcos Ambrose Motorsport and Fat Head Racing banner in the UARA-STARS Late Model Stock Tour and various NASCAR Whelen All-American Series events at tracks in the southeast. Rhodes was invited to compete in the Short Track Showdown in 2012 as a Wild Card.
Rhodes on being Invited to Compete in the Showdown: “The Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at Richmond is known as one of the premier events to attend and I am honored to be selected as a wild card for the race. There are a lot of big names in the short track world that were invited, and some big names in NASCAR’s top ranks I will be competing against. We are going to put a lot of effort into our Marcos Ambrose Motorsport #91 Stanley Ford Fusion for this event so we can have a good showing while racing and learning from some of the best racers in the industry.”
Rhodes on the Wednesday Practice Session: “We had a great practice session last Wednesday. The Marcos Ambrose Motorsport and Fat Head Racing team had the car fast right off the trailer. Knowing you have a great car when it hits the track for the first time is a huge confidence builder, and it allowed me to work on learning the track rather than getting the car comfortable. Throughout the day we only made minor changes to fine tune it to my driving style. I am very excited to get back to the track and see what we can do in the Showdown.”
Rhodes on his 2012 Season to Date: “We have had a great year so far, even with some bad luck here and there. We were able to race our way to two top-four finishes in our first-two NASCAR Whelen All-American Series races of the season. In the UARA-STARS Late Model, we finished third and earned Rookie of the Race at Hickory (NC), but then had some bad luck at Dillon (SC) getting spun. We were able to come back though for a 10th-place finish there. Also, at Rockingham (NC) we were running third and riding until the late stages of the race when the motor overheated. We didn’t get the end result we wanted to there, but our team has had strong runs in all races so far this year, and we have some great momentum heading into the Richmond race.”
Rhodes on the Denny Hamlin Foundation: “The Denny Hamlin Foundation is such a great organization raising awareness and funds for children with cystic fibrosis and other chronic diseases. I am honored to be one of the chosen drivers to participate in the Short Track Showdown to help continue the mission and bring awareness to those in need of our support.”
Ben Rhodes Fast Facts
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); three top-five finishes in five starts; earned Rookie of the Race in first UARA-STARS event (Hickory Motor Speedway)
Race Details
Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown
Thursday, April 26th, 2012
Richmond International Raceway (VA)
Qualifying: 5:30pm Eastern (approx)
Driver Introductions: 8:15pm Eastern
Green Flag: 8:30pm Eastern
Television: Live on SPEED TV
Radio: Live on MRN
On the Net
Web: www.BenRhodesInc.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/BenRhodesInc
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/BenRhodesInc
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/BenRhodesInc
Media / Public Relations
Jason Stix Buckley
STIX FX Entertainment
(e) stix@stixfx.com
(c) 704-519-5528