15-year-old Kentucky racer Ben Rhodes, driver of the #9 Stanley / Alpha Energy Solutions Ford Fusion for Marcos Ambrose Motorsport, is heading back to Kingsport Speedway (TN) on Friday, September 14th, for the 150-lap UARA-STARS Late Model Stock event. The race is the 12th stop on the series tour and the second event at the Kingsport, Tennessee, track in 2012. In May, Rhodes earned his first-career UARA-STARS pole position at the track.
Rhodes on Earning His First-Career Pole at Kingsport Speedway in May: “Earning my first pole in UARA was great, but stressful. Our car was really good during practice Thursday, but Friday we experienced radiator and brake problems. We got everything fixed and went into qualifying not knowing where we were going to time in. We were third out on the track and set the fast time. It held up through the whole session and I got my first pole position. It was really special because we earned it the hard way for sure. Hopefully this time around we can get our second pole and it will be a bit less stressful.”
Rhodes Reflecting Back on the Race in May: “We were very patient during the race at Kingsport in May. I let a few people go that wanted to race harder than us as we were saving our tires. Unfortunately we got shuffled back to around 10th, which was a little too far back. We were able to battle back to the top five and were looking to get more in the last 15 laps, but we ended up getting damage from another car turning into us, ending our race. We are hoping to have better luck this time around.”
Rhodes on Recent Test at Kingsport: “We tested last week at the track to shake down the #9 Stanley / Alpha Energy Solutions Ford Fusion. I was happy with the car at the end of the session, and the Marcos Ambrose Motorsport team is ready for our return this weekend.”
Race Details
UARA-STARS Late Model Stock – 150 Laps
Friday, September 14th, 2012
Kingsport Speedway (TN)
Qualifying: 5:45pm Eastern
Autograph Session: 7:00pm – 7:40pm Eastern
Green Flag: 8:00pm Eastern (local divisions also racing)
Broadcast: Live pay-per-view on www.MotorsportsBroadcasting.com ($9.95)
Ben Rhodes Race Day Updates: www.Twitter.com/BenRhodesInc
Ben Rhodes 2012 UARA-STARS Stats
Starts: 11
Wins: 0
Top 5: 3
Top 10: 6
Best Finish: 2nd (Hickory on June 23rd)
Current Points Position: 10th (-311 points)
Ben Rhodes Fast Facts and Career Milestones
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); 10 top-10 finishes in 17 starts; earned Rookie of the Race in first UARA-STARS event (Hickory Motor Speedway); earned first UARA-STARS pole in May at Kingsport Speedway (TN); finished sixth in invite-only Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at Richmond (VA)
On the Net
Web: www.BenRhodesInc.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/BenRhodesInc
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/BenRhodesInc
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/BenRhodesInc
Team Information
Web: www.MarcosAmbroseMotorsport.com
High-Res Photos: http://www.marcosambrosemotorsport.com/marcos-ambrose-motorsport-pr-photos.html
Media / Public Relations
Jason Stix Buckley
STIX FX Entertainment
(e) stix@stixfx.com
(c) 704-519-5528
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