Rhodes Seals the Deal at Greenville
17-Year-Old Notches First Career Victory
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Ben Rhodes finally got his first career NASCAR K&N Pro Series East win.
After leading all but the final two laps in his last series start at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, the 17-year-old Louisville, Ky., native took no chances on Saturday night, leading for the final 24 laps en route to a victory in the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 on Saturday night at Greenville Pickens Speedway.It was only the 11th start for the NASCAR Next driver. His previous best finish at the track was sixth, earned in September of last year.
Ronnie Bassett Jr. crossed the line behind Rhodes for his first top-five-finish in six series races. The 18-year-old rookie from Winston-Salem, N.C., 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.
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East is back on the track on April 25 for Blue Ox 100 at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.
NKNPS East Greenville 3/22/14 Results
K&N Pro Series East
Race: NKNPSE Greenville 3/22/14
Pos No. Name Sponsor Laps Diff
1 41 Ben Rhodes * Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet 150
2 04 Ronnie Bassett Jr. * Butler Trailer Mfg. Toyota 150 0.779
3 98 Cameron Hayley Cabinets by Hayley Chevrolet 150 1.740
4 97 Jesse Little Mac’s Speed Shop/NTI Chevrolet 150 2.540
5 6 Daniel Suarez Toyota Racing Development Toyota 150 2.787
6 2 Ryan Gifford Sunoco Race Fuel Toyota 150 3.956
7 31 Kaz Grala * OzLINK Chevrolet 150 4.551
8 43 Brodie Kostecki * Arcoplate Toyota 150 5.149
9 4 Sergio Pena UTI/NASCAR Technical Institute Toyota 150 6.033
10 71 Eddie MacDonald Grimm Const./National MS Society Chevrolet 150 6.266
11 20 Gray Gaulding Krispy Kreme Chevrolet 150 6.438
12 96 Kenzie Ruston Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet Chevrolet 150 6.752
13 24 Brennan Newberry Qore24 Chevrolet 150 6.961
14 07 Clint King * King Oil Products/Warehouse Design Chevrolet 150 7.131
15 54 Zach Bruenger * No Talent Motorsports/Cutting Edge Chevrolet 150 7.577
16 15 Nick Drake * NAPA Auto Parts Toyota 150 8.235
17 34 Scott Heckert Turner Scott Motorsports Chevrolet 150 8.523
18 11 Lee Pulliam * NTI/JTB Toyota 150 9.327
19 42 Jay Beasley * Toyota Racing Development Toyota 150 11.169
20 1 David Garbo Jr. * Big Machine Records/Garbo Lobster Toyota 149 1 Lap
21 21 Mackena Bell Special Smiles Pediatric Dentistry Toyota 149 1 Lap
22 22 Austin Hill * A&D Welding/Don-Rich Ford Ford 149 1 Lap
23 33 Brandon Jones Wolfpack Energy Services Chevrolet 148 2 Laps
24 45 Josh Berry * Speedco Ford 146 4 Laps
25 55 Jerry Dawson * EXIT Realty Chevrolet 118 32 Laps
26 18 Sam Hunt Drive Technology Toyota 56 94 Laps
* Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender
Sources: John Tejeda/NASCAR K&N Pro Series East PR