Rhodes, 26, gained his second Truck collection title in three seasons Friday evening at Phoenix Raceway in most uncharacteristic style – by principally surviving a wave of carnage that engulfed the 4 title contenders in a race that went into 4 overtimes.
All 4 drivers – Rhodes, Corey Heim, Carson Hocevar and Grant Enfinger – have been concerned in on-track incidents in some unspecified time in the future within the race and the final two-lap additional time got here right down to who may survive to the end line first – Rhodes or Enfinger.
Whereas Chrisitan Eckes gained the race, Rhodes edged out Enfinger for fifth and because the highest finisher among the many Championship 4, claiming the 2023 title.
Photograph by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Photos
Champion Ben Rhodes, ThorSport Racing, Kubota Ford F-150
In his two championship seasons, Rhodes has a complete of three wins, with only one this 12 months – at Charlotte in Could. He had two runner-up finishes coming into Phoenix – which is what propelled him into the Championship 4.
Rhodes might not be a daily customer to Victory Lane – he has seven profession wins in 187 begins – however he does appear to take advantage of out of the circumstances he’s handled.
“Let me let you know what, man. Was it 26 laps of additional time? It was one thing like that. I used to be getting annoyed I’m not going to lie,” Rhodes mentioned. “I believed even when we gained it, I’d be so mad. I ain’t mad, although. I simply let it roll proper off the shoulders.
“I believed we have been in like the true catbird seat place previous to the nostril getting knocked off (the truck). I couldn’t be mad at [Zane Smith] as a result of I did it myself. I simply didn’t blow anyone’s nostril off.
“They helped us quite a bit this weekend, so I really feel actually unhealthy about their ending place as a result of it was going to be like a Ford one-two I believed, and that was going to be actually cool.”
Discovering a house within the Truck Sequence
Rhodes was at one time thought of a scorching up-and-coming prospect in NASCAR.
He loved a profitable karting profession rising up, moved to Late Fashions and gained the 2014 championship in what’s now known as ARCA East Sequence. Whereas he has made restricted appearances within the Cup and Xfinity collection, he has discovered an enduring house within the Truck collection.
Requested the importance of profitable a second collection title, Rhodes demurred.
“I am simply attempting to go and win races,” he mentioned. “I don’t have a great reply for that but. I am simply excited to be racing within the Truck Sequence.
“I really like the Truck Sequence. It’s quick, it’s loopy, the races are brief. We’ve acquired younger guys which might be filled with exuberance, and so they do loopy issues, and you then’ve acquired guys like – nicely, I suppose me, Grant Enfinger and Matt Crafton, and Johnny [Sauter] isn’t right here however I really feel like Johnny Sauter is right here in spirit.”
Rising as a driver
Wealthy Lushes, Rhodes’ crew chief on his No. 99 ThorSport Racing Ford, says he has seen a change in his driver in recent times – one he believes they’ll capitalize on.
“He’s matured, and I imagine that the beginning of (his son) Theo actually modified him as an individual and it reveals on the race observe, too, the maturity,” Lushes mentioned of Rhodes. “At any level (Friday evening) he may have misplaced his cool and really acquired us in an accident that we didn’t must be in, or he may have pushed too arduous and put the truck in a nasty place.
“However he understands the large image now, and I feel after profitable the championship he’s acquired some reduction and a few stress off his shoulders, and I feel we’re able to win extra.”
