Rhodes Rolls to Bowman Gray Victory Lane
Gains Third NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Win
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Ben Rhodes turned in a dominating victory in the NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 Saturday night in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East action at historic Bowman Gray Stadium.
Rhodes, a NASCAR Next driver from Louisville, Kentucky, nearly became the first driver in four all-time races at The Stadium to win from the pole, but as it was he led all but one of the 152 circuits to emerge with his third victory of the season and extend his lead in the K&N Pro Series East championship standings.
Rhodes’ triumph was not without challenges, however. He had to keep his No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet out in front through 12 caution restarts on the tight quarter-mile for the hard-earned win.
The final caution set up a green-white-checkered flag finish where Daniel Suarez beat Rhodes to the line to lead restart Lap 150, but Rhodes regained the advantage and held on for the checkers.
Suarez, who rallied from back in the pack after early race issues, finished as the NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 runner-up and Austin Hill joined him on the Bowman Gray podium in third. Brandon Jones and Ronnie Bassett Jr. brought home the top five.
The rest of the top 10 finishers Saturday night at The Stadium included: Gray Gaulding, Ryan Gifford, Kenzie Ruston, Jay Beasley and Nick Drake.
Earlier in the evening Rhodes set the series’ track qualifying record at Bowman Gray in recording his fourth 21 Means 21 Pole Award by Coors Brewing.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 will air on FOX Sports 1 on Saturday, June 7 at 10:30 a.m.
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will return to action on Friday, June 13 with the Pensacola 150 at Five Flags Speedway.
RESULTS | RACE CENTRAL LIVE REPLAY | AUDIO: RUNNER-UP DANIEL SUAREZ | AUDIO: THIRD PLACE AUSTIN HILL
NKNPS East Bowman Gray 5/31/14 Unofficial Results
K&N Pro Series East
Race: NKNPSE Bowman Gray 5/31/14
Pos No. Name Laps Diff
1 41 Ben Rhodes * 152
2 6 Daniel Suarez 152 0.614
3 22 Austin Hill * 152 1.277
4 33 Brandon Jones 152 1.581
5 4 Ronnie Bassett Jr. * 152 3.718
6 20 Gray Gaulding 152 3.885
7 2 Ryan Gifford 152 4.089
8 96 Kenzie Ruston 152 6.03
9 42 Jay Beasley * 152 13.978
10 15 Nick Drake * 152 17.808
11 31 Kaz Grala * 151 1 Lap
12 34 Scott Heckert 150 2 Laps
13 21 Mackena Bell 149 3 Laps
14 97 Jesse Little 147 5 Laps
15 24 Brennan Newberry 146 6 Laps
16 18 Sam Hunt 146 6 Laps
17 14 Trey Hutchens * 145 7 Laps
18 98 Cameron Hayley 122 30 Laps
19 46 John Holleman IV 76 76 Laps
20 4 Sergio Pena 68 84 Laps
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR PR