LOUISVILLE, KY :: Weather problems have plagued the country this year, and in the south, it has affected many race dates at tracks that have had to postpone or cancel events due to heavy rain. 16-year-old NASCAR Next driver Ben Rhodes hopes the weather issues will stay away this weekend as he tries to compete in twin 40-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock races at Greenville Pickens Speedway (SC) on Friday, August 23rd.

Last weekend, Rhodes and his Hawk-McCall Motorsports team made the best of a rainout weekend at Greenville Pickens Speedway by heading up to Kingsport Speedway in Tennessee, picking up a third-place finish and a victory in twin 50-lap races, his third win in his last four races, all in the span of seven days. The Louisville, Kentucky, native now hopes the weather will hold out so he can race his No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions ride for the first time at the South Carolina track.

“I was really looking forward to racing at Greenville Pickens Speedway after our test there, but Lee (McCall, crew chief) and the team made a great call to head to Newport Speedway instead because of the rain in South Carolina. We were able to get another win too, so it really worked out well for us.”

If the weather holds out, it will be the first race Rhodes will compete against Randy Hawkins, co-car owner of Hawk-McCall Motorsports, who will enter a second car for the team at the track.

“Randy didn’t come with us to Newport, but he is going to race Friday at Greenville, so it will be cool to have our two-car team out there,” said Rhodes. “We had a great time at the test last week, so we should have some fun Friday. The weather just needs to cooperate so we can race.”

A video recap of the test from August 12th can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXVN2SERAAE

In 2013, Rhodes is sponsored by Alpha Energy Solutions as well as Alliance Comfort Systems, Kentucky National Guard, Refrigerant Rescue, and Park Community Federal Credit Union.

For schedule and ticket information, visit the track’s website at www.greenvillepickens.com. Race day updates on Rhodes can be followed at www.twitter.com/benrhodesinc.