By Sarah Handy, Staff Writer
In this week’s edition of Throwback Thursday, Kickin’ The Tires revisits when NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series driver Ben Rhodes won on his home track of Kentucky Speedway in 2018.
It was July 12 and the Truck Series was at Kentucky Speedway for the Buckle Up in Your Truck 225.
Kentucky native Ben Rhodes was looking for his first win of the 2018 season on his home turf, surrounded by friends and family.
Rhodes would qualify his ThorSport Racing No. 41 The Carolina Nut Co. Ford to a solid third place starting spot for the 12th event of the season.
Rhodes would run a clean race finishing the first two stages in first and third.
With fellow competitor Stewart Friesen fading in the final laps of the event, and clearly struggling after the final pit stop of the night, Rhodes was able to hold him off for the victory.
“This is sweeter than my first win. This is sweeter because of the people that are here. Kentucky Speedway doesn’t have the history that Daytona does, but it has the history for me,” Rhodes said.
The victory marked the second of Rhodes career, with his first victory coming at Las Vegas Motor Speedway back in 2017.
The win at Kentucky provided Rhodes a valuable spot in the playoffs later in the season.
2019 Season Update: Rhodes will look to capture back-to-back wins at his home track come Thursday evening’s event.
Heading into the 13th race of the season, Rhodes has earned five top-5s, and eight top-10 finishes with a best finish of second three times at Martinsville, Kansas and Iowa.