LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Report by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman — Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images for NASCAR photo —
2014 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion Ben Rhodes will not return to JR Motorsports’ (JRM) NASCAR XFINITY Series program following the end of the current season, the up-and-coming driver revealed Tuesday afternoon on his Twitter.
“A lot of people have asked me over the past few days if I am going into the [No.] 7 car for JR Motorsports in 2016,” Rhodes said. “Unfortunately, I do not have a full-time opportunity with [them], and I am currently exploring options for the 2016 season. I am thankful for the opportunity I was given with the team this season, and I am looking forward to a strong run in our final race together at Homestead-Miami Speedway!”
Rhodes elevated himself into rising NASCAR stardom after capturing the K&N East title last year for what was Turner-Scott Motorsports (now HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks), on the strength of five wins, six poles, 11 top fives and 13 top 10s in 16 races. That performance gave the 18-year-old a ride in the JRM stable this season, sharing the No. 88 Chevrolet with boss Dale Earnhardt Jr., reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick and Sprint Cup veteran Kasey Kahne.
In nine XFINITY starts to date across 2015, Rhodes has collected two top 10 finishes, with a best effort of seventh at Iowa Speedway — where he collected a win in a K&N Pro Series East/West combination race in May of his championship season.
However, the Louisville, Ky. driver is looking for more as he pushes forward, in the form of a full-time XFINITY Series ride by the time Daytona Speedweeks rolls around in February.
“I’m confident that if I can get behind the wheel more, that’s I’m going to be a better driver for it,” Rhodes said. “I signed the deal for 10 [XFINITY] races this year, but then I haven’t been racing at all outside of that. … I was learning by going to the track, but where I got hurt this year was because I haven’t been keeping my skills sharp behind the wheel.”
“[The people I have around me] and I feel that a full season [on the track] would be best for me, but at the very least I’m looking to compete in more races than I have here in 2015.It’s all about seat time for me right now, I feel like.”
Rhodes’ starts this season have been sponsored by Alpha Energy Solutions, a Kentucky-based mechanical service contracting company that his father Joe is the company president for.
For more information on Ben Rhodes, follow him on Twitter @BenRhodes or visit his website at www.benrhodes.com.
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network. Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 21-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for both the United Sprint Car Series and the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: speed77radio@gmail.com
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
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