LOUISVILLE, KY :: 16-year-old Louisville, Kentucky, native and NASCAR Next driver Ben Rhodes has teamed up with the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety in a series of public service announcements related to distracted driving. Through his partnership with the Louisville Catholic Sports Network, the teen racer is featured in multiple television and online “Smooth Operator” video campaigns discussing distractions and inattention while operating motor vehicles.

Rhodes, who drives the No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East for Turner Scott Motorsports as well as NASCAR Whelen All-American Series events with Hawk-McCall Motorsports, has been driving motorsports vehicles in competition on closed circuits since 2004. In February, Rhodes obtained his Kentucky state driving permit and knows the importance of staying focused when behind the wheel, whether on the track or on the streets and highways.

“When I am in my race car, things are happening so fast I have to stay focused,” said Rhodes. “Some people think that driving on the roads and highways is a lot safer, so they try to text and drive or do other things that shift focus away from the road. About 80-percent of car crashes happen because of some form of distracted driving.”

Bill Bell, Director of the Office of Highway Safety, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, is excited to have Rhodes on board with the “Smooth Operator” program as it will reach a wider audience.

“The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety is excited to be teaming up with Ben, a NASCAR driver, for our “young driver” initiatives,” explained Bell. “He will help us reach out to his peers on seat belt safety and distracted driving, which are problematic for our newest drivers. Ben will be opening another avenue to reach teen drivers and get them started on the right driving path.”

The first video Rhodes is featured in can be viewed here: Ben Rhodes – Kentucky Office of Highway Safety – Smooth Operator – Distraction and Inattention.

For Rhodes, being able to reach out to teens about driving safer is important.

“There have always been distractions while driving, like listening to music, talking on the phone, or just goofing around and not watching the road. But kids my age like to text and check their Facebook and Twitter. I do all those things too, but I make sure not to do it when I am behind the wheel. It is amazing on how just one second of not paying attention can affect what happens on the road.

“I am very happy to be a part of the “Smooth Operator” program for the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. Whether I am buckling in to my race car or my street car, I try and make sure I am an attentive driver, and I hope the “Smooth Operator” videos and tips keep everyone safe when they are behind the wheel too.”

For more information on the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, visit <http://transportation.ky.gov/Highway-Safety.

For more information on Ben Rhodes, including media availability, contact Jason “Stix” Buckley of STIX FX Entertainment at (704) 519-5528 or [email protected], and make sure to keep up to date on his racing career at www.benrhodesinc.com, like him on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/benrhodesinc, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/benrhodesinc.

[youtube id=”fu2MCc83A6s” width=”615″ height=”375″]