Ben Rhodes to Join All-Star Lineup in JRM’s No. 88 Chevrolet
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Dec. 5, 2014) – JR Motorsports announced today that Ben Rhodes, the reigning K&N Pro Series East champion, will drive 10 NASCAR XFINITY Series races in the No. 88 Chevrolet in 2015. The 17-year-old Rhodes joins an all-star lineup of drivers for the No. 88 team that includes Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne in select races. Alpha Energy Solutions will sponsor the Rhodes-driven races.
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Rhodes won the K&N Pro Series East championship as a rookie. With the title he also claimed Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors and the series’ most popular driver award. His mammoth 2014 included five wins, 11 top-five and 13 top-10 finishes. Rhodes also competed four times in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, earning one top-five and three top-10 finishes.
“Ben is one of the rising talents in NASCAR,” JR Motorsports general manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller said. “As a company, JRM takes pride in cultivating young drivers, and together with Alpha Energy Solutions, we’re thrilled to give Ben a platform to further develop his skills at the next level. I’m excited to see what this coming year will bring for him and the 88 team.”
Alpha Energy Solutions, Inc. is a commercial and industrial mechanical service provider with multiple specialties. It is one of the largest self-performing service providers in the Midwest. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Alpha Energy Solutions provides building management services to commercial and industrial customers. With more than 200 service technicians located throughout Kentucky and surrounding states, Alpha delivers exceptional service.
“I’m thrilled to be joining one of the top teams in NASCAR for the 2015 season,” Rhodes said. “It’s been my goal to compete in NASCAR’s top tiers, and this is a tremendous opportunity with JR Motorsports and Alpha Energy Solutions to race in the XFINITY Series. I couldn’t think of a better group of people to surround myself with to continue my growth in the sport. I am looking forward to working with crew chief Dave Elenz, driving the No. 88 Chevrolet with Dale Jr., Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne, as well as sharing the track with my teammates Chase Elliott and Regan Smith.”
The No. 88 team will compete in the full 33-race XFINITY Series schedule in 2015. Rhodes’ complete schedule in the No. 88 Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet includes races at Iowa Speedway (May 17), Chicagoland Speedway (June 20), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (July 18), a second event at Iowa Speedway (Aug. 1), Watkins Glen International (Aug. 8), Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Aug. 15), Road America (Aug. 29), Kentucky Speedway (Sept. 26), Dover International Speedway (Oct. 3) and the season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway (Nov. 21).
The No. 88 team is the only JR Motorsports team in which multiple drivers will pilot the car throughout the season. It was announced Tuesday that former Hendrick Motorsports engineer Dave Elenz will serve as the team’s crew chief.
ABOUT ALPHA ENERGY SOLUTIONS INC.:
Alpha Energy Solutions, Inc. is a commercial and industrial mechanical service provider specializing in HVAC, indoor energy solutions, building automation, chillers, boilers, electrical, equipment rental, food equipment service, piping, plumbing, sheet metal, refrigeration, and parts. With more than 200 service personnel, Alpha is the area’s largest self-performing service provider. Alpha’s highly skilled technicians operate quickly and efficiently in all areas of system management and maintenance. As a multi-million dollar company licensed to operate in Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Tennessee, Alpha Energy Solutions is the regional leader in delivering top quality mechanical service. As members of the communities we serve, our employees are committed to job quality and customer satisfaction. To learn more visit http://www.alphamechanicalservice.com/.
ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:
JR Motorsports is the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s 11-time Most Popular Driver and winner of more than 40 NASCAR-sanctioned races. JR Motorsports competes in multiple racing divisions, including the NASCAR XFINITY Series, in which it won the 2014 championship with 18-year-old Chase Elliott. The company competes in regional late model divisions, in which it just earned its second championship in three years. To learn more about the organization, its drivers and its sponsorship opportunities, visit www.jrmracing.com.
Sources: JR Motorsports PR
DATE TRACK LOCATION RACE TITLE
05/17/15 Iowa Speedway Newton, IA Get To Know Newton 250
06/20/15 Chicagoland Speedway Joliet, IL EnjoyIllinois.com 300
07/18/15 New Hampshire Motor Speedway Loudon, NH Sta-Green 200
08/01/15 Iowa Speedway Newton, IA US Cellular 250
08/08/15 Watkins Glen International Watkins Glen, NY Zippo 200
08/15/15 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, OH Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200
08/29/15 Road America Elkhart Lake, WI Road America 200
09/26/15 Kentucky Speedway Sparta, KY VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300
10/03/15 Dover International Speedway Dover, DE 5-Hour Energy 200
11/21/15 Homestead-Miami Speedway Homestead, FL Ford Ecoboost 300
Sources: BenRhodes.com