Rhodes sees challenges of summer stretch

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Two-time NASCAR Truck Series champion Ben Rhodes knows this is the time of year when mistakes are often made. The pressure is on drivers to make the Chase in the different NASCAR national series, and everything becomes more intense. Rhodes, driver of the No. 99 ThorSport Ford, is putting pressure on himself as his last Truck Series win came three years ago at Charlotte. But, the heat of the summer combined with that makes for an interesting stretch of races from Lime Rock Park this weekend until Bristol in September. "We're at the summer stretch, the money-making points time when people start to worry and it's hot out," Rhodes said Wednesday during a media event at North Wilkesboro Speedway. "You see them get tired on the track and not make the best decisions." If the Truck Series competitors didn't have enough to worry about racing each other, it was announced this week that a handful of Cup Series drivers led by former champion Chase Elliott will be racing at North Wilkesboro. There has always been a divide amongst fans as some love seeing the big names compete in the lower series, while others feel they have an unfair advantage. As for Rhodes, he likes seeing the interlopers. "Myself and nearly every other driver in the garage enjoys it," he said. "Kyle Busch was so great in the Truck Series. So many rules came about because he was so fast and so good. I had nothing against it because it elevated the series and brought new eyes to the series. Now, they don't have to race for points, so that's a different dynamic." Rhodes is unique that he still lives in Kentucky unlike the other full-time drivers who have relocated to North Carolina to be near the teams' shops. He likes the diversity of the Truck Series from it being a series for veteran drivers like himself and Justin Haley, and also a place where young drivers are trying to make a name for themselves. "We have guys that make a living in the Truck Series, but we always have those coming in from the Cup Series or guys making their first NASCAR starts," he said. "There is such a dynamic in our series, so it's really tough. You have to be on offense every minute of the race. If they're going to be aggressive, you have to be aggressive back." He's certainly looking forward to North Wilkesboro, which is a track that drives completely different than its sister track in Bristol. North Wilkesboro has a downhill frontstretch and an uphill backstretch with different corners. "You can tell this track was built in 1947 with the grade on the track, the pitch and the elevation," he said. "All of that is different from corner to corner, and even from the start to the exit of the corner. They did a really good job of maintaining that character and bringing it through the repave. You drive the track according to the character, and the lines are dominated by how track was built in 1947. To think that still has such an effect is mind-blowing," Rhodes usually runs a higher line than most drivers to keep the momentum up. He sees it as a terrific venue for the fans. Wednesday was his first time getting a view at the track from above as he normally goes straight to the pits. A 1939 Ford coupe race car owned by pioneer racer Bill Blair was on display during the event. It had Rhodes daydreaming what it would be like to drive the vehicle. While his Truck Series is so far advanced with all its technical and safety features, there's still an old-school feel when racing at North Wilkesboro. "It's high-end NASCAR meets grassroots," he said. "You feel that, like you're stepping back in time. They've preserved all that could be and replaced what needed to be. They've done a fantastic job, a big fan of when we come here."