Photo: Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

Ben Rhodes Returns to ThorSport for 2018 Truck Series Season

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor

It’s been a week full of news coming out of the Sandusky, Ohio based ThorSport Racing team and Tuesday was no exception as they announced that Ben Rhodes would be returning for a third year with the team in 2018.

Rhodes, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, broke through with the best season of his career in 2017, scoring his first win in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (Las Vegas) and a fifth place finish in points. In his last two seasons with ThorSport, Rhodes has also tallied nine top-five finishes, 20 top-10 finishes, two pole awards and 258 laps led in 46 starts.

“It’s great to be back this year at ThorSport Racing with Ford behind us,” said Rhodes. “Duke and Rhonda Thorson have given me an excellent opportunity to build on our 2017 performance. We are working hard to start this year off with the momentum we had at Homestead, and after our performance improved with every start last season, I feel this year is going to be no exception. Having a second year with my crew chief Eddie [Troconis], and the same team, is a big plus. All of our foundations are there, which makes winning right out of the gate much easier.”

The 20-year old will once again have veteran Matt Crafton as his teammate and will drive ThorSport’s No. 41 Ford for the upcoming season as he looks to build on the success he has had over the last two seasons with the team.

“Obviously, we’re very excited in having Ben and Eddie back together for a second season,” noted team general manager David Pepper. “They proved they could run up front and win races last year, and we’re looking forward to the possibility of winning more races and having a chance to compete for the championship in 2018.”

Rhodes, Crafton, and ThorSport will line up for the first race of the 2018 Truck Series season with the February 16th running of the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona.

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David Morgan is the Associate Editor for Motorsports Tribune. A 2008 graduate from the University of Mississippi, David has followed NASCAR since the early 90’s and became hooked at an early age after attending his first race at Talladega Superspeedway in 1993. He has traveled across the country since 2012 to cover some of the most prestigious events both IndyCar and NASCAR have to offer, with an aim to only expand on that in the near future.