Turner Scott Motorsports has announced that Ben Rhodes will run five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races during the 2014 season in the No. 32 Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet Silverado, beginning at Martinsville Speedway. The 17-year-old is currently competing full time in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East for TSM and has received three pole awards and one win in four starts this season.
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Rhodes made his TSM debut last year when he ran a partial NKNPSE schedule and received two Top-5 and five Top-10 finishes in seven starts. He was also selected as a member of the 2013 NASCAR Next class, a select group chosen by the sanctioning body that spotlights NASCAR’s rising stars with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series potential. Most recently, Rhodes claimed his first NKNPSE victory at Greenville-Pickens Speedway.
“I’m really thankful for this opportunity,” said Rhodes. “I can’t thank Harry Scott and Steve Turner enough for giving me this chance to gain valuable experience behind the wheel of one of the best trucks in the Truck Series. I also appreciate the ongoing support from Alpha Energy Solutions this season and hope I can make everyone proud. I’m really excited to start off at Martinsville, since I’ve got short-track racing experience and plan to carry momentum from my K&N win over to the No. 32 truck. Turner Scott Motorsports is a top-notch organization and I hope to learn a lot this year from both my Truck Series team as well as my K&N team.”Rhodes will be under the direction of three-time NCWTS championship-winning crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. throughout the five races. In 2013, Hillman directed the No. 4 truck driven by NCWTS Rookie of the Year contender Jeb Burton and claimed one victory, seven pole awards and finished the season in fifth place in the NCWTS standings. Hillman and Rhodes will team up for the following races:
3/29 — Martinsville Speedway
5/30 — Dover International Raceway
8/20 — Bristol Motor Speedway
10/25 — Martinsville Speedway
11/7 — Phoenix International Raceway
“Ben is a very talented and deserving driver,” said TSM co-owner Harry Scott, Jr. “I’ve enjoyed watching him grow as a racer, as well as a young ambassador of the sport. Ben has proven to be a pleasure to work with and I look forward to his continued success within our organization.”
