LOUISVILLE, KY :: Before heading back to his home state of Kentucky to start his Junior year of High School at Holy Cross, 16-year-old Louisville native and NASCAR Next driver Ben Rhodes will race the No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Late Model Stock with Hawk-McCall Motorsports in two NASCAR Whelen All-American Series events in two states, starting with the 60-lap feature at Kingsport Speedway in Tennessee on Friday, August 9th, concluding with the 100-lap feature at Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina on Saturday, August 10th.
Rhodes raced at Kingsport Speedway using chassis nicknamed “Princess” in June earlier this year, earning the pole position during qualifying. During the early laps of the race, another competitor made contact with his car, cutting down a tire and ending his chances at victory.
“We had a really fast car the last time we were at Kingsport,” said Rhodes. “I really like that place and it was a shame we had our tire cut down. We are bringing the same chassis back and hopefully we will have better luck this time.”
Hickory Motor Speedway is also a place Rhodes loves to race. In his last seven Late Model Stock starts at the historic track, he has six top-five finishes, but has yet to drive into victory lane. Racing the chassis nicknamed “Smoke” due to it being the race-winning chassis NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart used to win the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at Richmond International Raceway (VA) in 2012, Rhodes is hoping to drive it into victory lane for the first time at Hickory.
“Hickory Motor Speedway is the first track I raced at in a Late Model Stock,” said Rhodes. “I really like the track and Lee McCall (crew chief) has a great set-up for it. We are going there to try and win the race for my first Late Model Stock victory.”
Earlier this week, Stewart was injured in a Sprint Car wreck, taking him out of the seat of his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series ride this weekend. Rhodes now has extra motivation to race for the win.
“Lee and his wife Michele are really close friends with Tony, and this year we were teammates at Hawk-McCall Motorsports in the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown. He is a great guy and even though he will be on the sidelines this weekend from racing, we are hoping to put the Smoke chassis in victory lane.”
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 for both events, visit the track websites at www.newkingsportspeedway.com andwww.hickorymotorspeedway.com. Updates throughout the weekend on Rhodes can be followed at www.twitter.com/benrhodesinc.
