Ben Rhodes hopes his Playoffs experience pays off as he pursues his second Truck championship. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
CLERMONT, Ind. – At age 26, Ben Rhodes is making his presence known as a perennial NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship contender.
After making the Playoffs with consistent, frontrunning results from 2017 to 2020, the Louisville, Kentucky native went the distance in 2021. Last year, the ninth-year Truck racer was five points away from back-to-back titles.
This season, Rhodes has endured two crew chief changes with Brian Ross atop his pit box. Despite the change, Rhodes remains a top 10 performer.
Throughout the course of the 2023 season, Rhodes has showcased his poise and experience against his competitors. Now, with the Playoffs kicking off with Friday night’s TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, perhaps the Bluegrass State native has a handy intangible by his side.
“It takes the pressure off, for sure,” Rhodes said. “That goes so far. It only can go so far, right? You can’t make up with experience a slow truck or you can’t make up for dumb mistakes that happen in an instant.”
Although experience may serve as a teacher between beneficial moves or costly mistakes, Rhodes realizes the human element still matters, even for a Truck title.
Rhodes’s No. 99 Ford F-150 has been a frontrunner for the majority of 2023. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
“The frame of mind is good,” he said. “It should lead to less risk. It should lead to smarter decisions. It should lead to less pressure, meaning less mistakes on the track, right? But all that’s in theory how it all interacts.
“We’re talking about human beings and their mental state going through things. But I feel like as a whole, that pressure being off my shoulders certainly helps.”
Earlier this year, Rhodes showcased his winning ways at Charlotte Motor Speedway while compiling five consecutive top 10 results. Despite a 12th that put a skid on a higher Playoffs spot, he is one of the favorites to duplicate his efforts from 2021.
Returning to the Ford fray along with his ThorSport Racing comrades this year, Rhodes has four top fives and 10 top 10s with an average finish of 10.9. The form seen two years ago seems to be back with the Kentuckian and his No. 99 Ford F-150 efforts.
Heading into Friday night’s race, Rhodes is likely licking his chops about returning to IRP. Mainly, he placed second to Grant Enfinger, a result that would not prove too badly with the Round of 10 kicking off in a few days.
For now, Rhodes observes that he may not be Neo from The Matrix who sees beyond the trees or competition. Instead, he will take things one-by-one with this month’s somewhat action packed schedule.
Rhodes brimmed with confidence and a smile when he won at Charlotte. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
“I don’t feel like I’m going into this not knowing what to expect,” he said. “We’ve done this a couple times now where we’ve made it to the Final Four, finished first and second. And I feel like I’ve just kind of got this road map on knowing what to follow. We’re going to assess things as they come to us. But I see that as an advantage for sure.
At the same token, Rhodes points out how he hopes experience helps while pursuing one of the most indelible needs for any driver and team.
“I know the people I’m racing against,” Rhodes said. “There’s a few of them that that haven’t been in that position. So I’m not going to say they’re disadvantaged, but it certainly helps. But nothing makes up for a lack of speed, right? You got to have speed or you’re not going to win.”
