Ben Rhodes celebrates his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East win Saturday night at Greenville Pickens Speedway. Photo by Getty Images for NASCAR
From his perspective it was a week late, but Ben Rhodes got his first career NASCAR K&N Pro Series East win.
After leading all but the final two laps in his last start on March 15 at Bristol Motor Speedway, the 17-year-old Louisville, KY, native took no chances on Saturday night by leading the final 26 laps en route to a victory in the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 on Saturday night at Greenville Pickens Speedway in Easley, SC.
It was just the 11th start for the NASCAR Next driver. His previous best finish at the track was sixth, earned in September of last year. Rhodes’ best series career finish coming into the night was a pair of third-place efforts.
Ronnie Bassett, Jr. crossed the line behind Rhodes for his first top-five-finish in six series outings. The 18-year-old rookie from Winston-Salem, NC, withstood a late charge from Drive for Diversity driver Daniel Suarez to hold on to second place. He was followed by Cameron Hayley and Jesse Little in third and fourth respectively. Suarez fell back to fifth place, his third top-five finish of the season.
Fellow Drive for Diversity pilot Ryan Gifford finished sixth, followed by rookies Kaz Grala and Brodie Kostecki. Sergio Pena and Eddie MacDonald rounded out the top 10.
With the victory, Rhodes took over the lead in the championship standings by seven points over Suarez and nine better than Gray Gaulding, also a NASCAR Next driver.
NASCAR Next is an industry initiative that spotlights young, talented drivers, who could shape the future of the sport.
The Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 will be telecast by FOX Sports 1 on Friday, March 28 at 11 AM ET.
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East is back on the track on April 25 for Blue Ox 100 at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, VA.
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
Greenville Pickens Speedway – Easley, SC
Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 – March 22, 2014
| Fin | Str | Car | Driver | Team | Laps | Points | B/Points | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 41 | Ben Rhodes * | Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet | 150 | 48 | 5 | Running |
| 2 | 11 | 04 | Ronnie Bassett, Jr. * | Butler Trailer Mfg. Toyota | 150 | 42 | Running | |
| 3 | 2 | 98 | Cameron Hayley | Cabinets by Hayley Chevrolet | 150 | 42 | 1 | Running |
| 4 | 3 | 97 | Jesse Little | Mac’s Speed Shop/NTI Chevrolet | 150 | 40 | Running | |
| 5 | 15 | 6 | Daniel Suarez | Toyota Racing Development Toyota | 150 | 39 | Running | |
| 6 | 10 | 2 | Ryan Gifford | Sunoco Racing Fuel Toyota | 150 | 38 | Running | |
| 7 | 6 | 31 | Kaz Grala * | OzLINK Chevrolet | 150 | 38 | 1 | Running |
| 8 | 8 | 43 | Brodie Kostecki * | Arcoplate Toyota | 150 | 36 | Running | |
| 9 | 21 | 4 | Sergio Pena | UTI/NASCAR Technical Institute Toyota | 150 | 35 | Running | |
| 10 | 20 | 71 | Eddie MacDonald | Grimm Const./National MS Society Chevrolet | 150 | 34 | Running | |
| 11 | 14 | 20 | Gray Gaulding | Krispy Kreme Chevrolet | 150 | 33 | Running | |
| 12 | 13 | 96 | Kenzie Ruston | Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet Chevrolet | 150 | 32 | Running | |
| 13 | 16 | 24 | Brennan Newberry | Qore24 Chevrolet | 150 | 31 | Running | |
| 14 | 24 | 07 | Clint King * | King Oil Products/Warehouse Design Chevrolet | 150 | 30 | Running | |
| 15 | 23 | 54 | Zach Bruenger * | No Talent Motorsports/Cutting Edge Chevrolet | 150 | 29 | Running | |
| 16 | 22 | 15 | Nick Drake * | NAPA Auto Parts Toyota | 150 | 28 | Running | |
| 17 | 9 | 34 | Scott Heckert | Turner Scott Motorsports Chevrolet | 150 | 27 | Running | |
| 18 | 7 | 11 | Lee Pulliam * | NTI/JTB Toyota | 150 | 26 | Running | |
| 19 | 25 | 42 | Jay Beasley * | Toyota Racing Development Toyota | 150 | 25 | Running | |
| 20 | 12 | 1 | David Garbo, Jr. * | Big Machine Records/Garbo Lobster Toyota | 149 | 24 | Running | |
| 21 | 17 | 21 | Mackena Bell | Special Smiles Pediatric Dentistry Toyota | 149 | 23 | Running | |
| 22 | 4 | 22 | Austin Hill * | A&D Welding/Don-Rich Ford Ford | 149 | 22 | Running | |
| 23 | 18 | 33 | Brandon Jones | Wolfpack Energy Services Chevrolet | 148 | 21 | Running | |
| 24 | 5 | 45 | Josh Berry * | Speedco Ford | 146 | 20 | Running | |
| 25 | 26 | 55 | Jerry Dawson * | EXIT Realty Toyota | 118 | 19 | Handling | |
| 26 | 19 | 18 | Sam Hunt | Drive Technology Toyota | 56 | 18 | Carburetor |
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RACE STATISTICS
Fastest Qualifier: Ben Rhodes * Time: 20.684 Seconds Speed: 87.024 mph
Time of Race: 1 hrs., 17 mins, 6 secs Average Speed: 58.366 mph Margin of Victory: .779 Seconds
Caution Flags:Laps 36-39 (# 55 Spin Turn 2 – No FP); 62-66 (#21 & #54 Turn 1 & 2 – FP #55); 76-77 (Break – FP #54); 111-113 (#96 Turn 4 – FP #21); 133-136 (#22 & #45 Turn 3 – FP #33); 138-143 (#33, #45, #21, #15, #42, #11, #34 Backstretch – No FP). 6 for 24 laps.
Lap Leaders:Ben Rhodes * 1-80, Cameron Hayley 81-84, Kaz Grala * 85-99, Cameron Hayley 100-124, Ben Rhodes * 125-150.
Total Laps Led:Ben Rhodes * 106, Cameron Hayley 29, Kaz Grala * 15. 4 changes involving 3 drivers.
Top 10 Driver Points:Ben Rhodes * 160, Daniel Suarez 153, Gray Gaulding 151, Cameron Hayley 142, Eddie MacDonald 133, Kenzie Ruston 131, Kaz Grala * 130, Jesse Little 129, Brennan Newberry 124, Austin Hill * 120
Next Race: Richmond, April 25, 2014
* Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender
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