PRACTICE: Rhodes Posts Fastest Laps at Greenville
Sets Sight On K&N East Title
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Ben Rhodes is picking up right where he left off.
Rhodes, who won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Greenville Pickens Speedway earlier this year, posted the fastest time in practice at the half-mile oval Saturday afternoon.
The 17-year-old from Louisville, Kentucky, had a fast time of 20.900 seconds (86.124 mph) in the first 45-minute practice for the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 140. Rhodes needs only to finish 13th or better in the race to clinch his first series championship.
Austin Hill was the second fastest in the first practice with a time of 21.202 (84.898 mph) and Gray Gaulding followed in third with a time of 21.224 (84.810 mph).
Ronnie Bassett Jr. and Cameron Hayley were fourth and fifth, respectively. Nick Drake, Sergio Pena, Kaz Grala and Scott Heckert rounded out the top 10.
Rhodes also posted the fastest lap in the final 30-minute practice at 21.379 seconds (84.195 mph).
Qualifying is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET with the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 140 starting at 8 p.m.
NKNPS East Greenville 9/6/14 Practice
Submitted by jtejeda on September 6, 2014 – 4:34pm
FINAL PRACTICE
Pos No. Name Sponsor Best Tm Best Speed In Lap Laps Diff
1 41 Ben Rhodes* Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet 21.379 84.195 5 10
2 20 Gray Gaulding Krispy Kreme Chevrolet 21.455 83.897 3 30 0.076
3 98 Cameron Hayley Cabinets by Hayley Chevrolet 21.515 83.663 2 12 0.136
4 15 Nick Drake * NAPA Auto Parts Toyota 21.585 83.391 16 24 0.206
5 97 Jesse Little Mac’s Speed Shop Chevrolet 21.613 83.283 10 23 0.234
6 34 Scott Heckert Project Lifesaver Chevrolet 21.642 83.172 13 19 0.263
7 4 Sergio Pena Toyota Racing Development Toyota 21.645 83.160 5 19 0.266
8 04 Ronnie Bassett Jr. * Bassett Racing Chevrolet 21.646 83.156 8 8 0.267
9 43 Brodie Kostecki* Arcoplate Toyota 21.674 83.049 7 10 0.295
10 22 Austin Hill * A&D Welding/Don Rich Ford 21.707 82.923 15 15 0.328
11 31 Kaz Grala* OzLINK Chevrolet 21.711 82.907 7 9 0.332
12 24 Brennan Newberry Qore24 Chevrolet 21.727 82.846 2 36 0.348
13 96 Kenzie Ruston Ben Kennedy Racing Chevrolet 21.729 82.839 13 13 0.350
14 42 Jay Beasley* Toyota Racing Development Toyota 21.789 82.610 2 12 0.410
15 21 Mackena Bell Special Smiles Pediatric Dentistry Toyota 21.799 82.573 18 23 0.420
16 1 Trey Hutchens * NISCO/NRC Toyota 21.805 82.550 16 17 0.426
17 52 Quin Houff * Quin Houff Racing Chevrolet 21.843 82.406 17 28 0.464
18 81 Will Burns * Burns Brothers Racing Chevrolet 21.869 82.308 2 31 0.490
19 6 Bryan Ortiz Rev Racing Toyota 22.029 81.710 2 17 0.650
20 18 Sam Hunt DRIVE Technology Toyota 22.224 80.994 2 5 0.845
21 33 Brandon Jones Richard Childress Museum Chevrolet 22.235 80.953 4 15 0.856
FIRST PRACTICE
Pos No. Name Sponsor Best Tm Best Speed In Lap Laps Diff
1 41 Ben Rhodes* Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet 20.9 86.124 3 10
2 22 Austin Hill * A&D Welding/Don Rich Ford 21.202 84.898 5 15 0.302
3 20 Gray Gaulding Krispy Kreme Chevrolet 21.224 84.810 3 28 0.324
4 04 Ronnie Bassett Jr. * Bassett Racing Chevrolet 21.266 84.642 2 17 0.366
5 98 Cameron Hayley Cabinets by Hayley Chevrolet 21.281 84.582 4 18 0.381
6 15 Nick Drake * NAPA Auto Parts Toyota 21.302 84.499 3 32 0.402
7 4 Sergio Pena Toyota Racing Development Toyota 21.359 84.274 4 24 0.459
8 31 Kaz Grala* OzLINK Chevrolet 21.374 84.214 3 22 0.474
9 34 Scott Heckert Project Lifesaver Chevrolet 21.552 83.519 4 19 0.652
10 18 Sam Hunt DRIVE Technology Toyota 21.558 83.496 3 28 0.658
11 24 Brennan Newberry Qore24 Chevrolet 21.579 83.414 3 24 0.679
12 42 Jay Beasley* Toyota Racing Development Toyota 21.597 83.345 6 33 0.697
13 21 Mackena Bell Special Smiles Pediatric Dentistry Toyota 21.676 83.041 4 28 0.776
14 6 Bryan Ortiz Rev Racing Toyota 21.7 82.949 5 22 0.800
15 2 Ryan Gifford UTI/NASCAR Technical Institute Toyota 21.75 82.759 2 3 0.850
16 1 Trey Hutchens * NISCO/NRC Toyota 21.769 82.686 5 31 0.869
17 43 Brodie Kostecki* Arcoplate Toyota 21.794 82.592 20 20 0.894
18 81 Will Burns * Burns Brothers Racing Chevrolet 21.819 82.497 4 49 0.919
19 52 Quin Houff * Quin Houff Racing Chevrolet 21.936 82.057 3 32 1.036
20 97 Jesse Little Mac’s Speed Shop Chevrolet 21.938 82.049 3 19 1.038
21 96 Kenzie Ruston Ben Kennedy Racing Chevrolet 21.967 81.941 7 22 1.067
22 33 Brandon Jones Richard Childress Museum Chevrolet 22.044 81.655 5 25 1.144
*Rookie of the Year contender
Sources: Amaris Noble, NASCAR PR