Roulette Recap follows a randomly selected driver throughout a race to break down their efforts. There is no telling ahead of time how the race will go. The driver could face calamity on the opening lap or start from the rear and win the race. With that, may the odds be ever in the driver’s favor.
CRC Brackleen 175
Rain was once again the name of the game on a NASCAR weekend. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series practice was delayed following a brief rain shower. Then, qualifying at Pocono Raceway was washed out. This forced teams to lineup by the rule book for the CRC Brackleen 175.
Ben Rhodes, following a shaky practice session found himself starting P7. The driver from Louisville, Kentucky looked to better his Pocono average finish of 10.4 with a win.
He prepared to tackle the Tricky Triangle with Doug Randolph atop the pit box and spotter Frank Deiny, as his eyes in the sky.
Stage 1
With the green flag in the air, drivers made use of every inch of front stretch real estate. After multiple three-wide battles in the opening lap, Rhodes found himself shuffled back to P10. However, as drivers settled in, the two-time Truck Series champion got around Jake Garcia in P9 and Randolph, said, “There you go. One at a time.”
By Lap 6, the field was mostly single file with Christian Eckes leading the line of trucks. Meanwhile, Rhodes held his ground in P9.
One lap later, Stewart Friesen and Nick Sanchez were battling ahead of him and Deiny said, “Take advantage of this right here.”
Unfrotunately, Rhodes was not able to capitalize, and after falling to P11, he radioed in to let Randolph know the handling of his truck was “too loose.”
The short 15-lap stage ended with Rhodes in P11. “The truck was just free the entire run…especially in Turn 1,” Rhodes said. He went on to share more details in hopes of some major adjustments coming his way.
Stage 2
Following a stop for fresh tires, fuel, and much-needed adjustments, Rhodes returned to the track in P13 for an even shorter run for the second stage. Randolph said, “You see what’s in front of you. A bunch of them with no tires.”
A wild restart saw Rhodes fall to P17. Then, while Sage Karam was blowing up all over the track, Rhodes moved back up to P14.
While sitting P15, Sanchez went squirrelly all over the track. Then, Rhodes was passed by Bret Holmes. As he fell to P17, he radioed in, “I’m wrecking loose. Unbelievably loose. Wrecking loose.”
Right when Rhodes was getting ready to come in for a pit stop, pit road closed. This forced him to finish the stage in P13, still battling an extremely loose truck.
Under caution, Randolph spoke with his driver to determine what he was feeling on track. The veteran crew chief made the call for two tires and a massive swing at the adjustments heading into the final stage.
Stage 3
The No. 99 pit crew got Rhodes off 10th fastest which allowed him to restart P10 on Lap 3. He jumped to P9 but then fell to P17 as the trucks all fanned out.
With momentum after a push from Ankrum, he moved to P15, but unfortunately fell back to P17. One lap later, he was able to return to P15 and Deiny encouraged Rhodes to keep it up.
Lap 40 saw Rhodes in P12 and Deiny noted, “Better corner!”
This corner came after help from Rajah Caruth. With 27 to go, Deiny told his driver, “He (Caruth) said he’d keep pushing you. Be ready for it.”
Sure enough, the help continued to come from the No. 71 and propelled Rhodes into P11 with 26 to go.
Unfortunately, in that same lap, Rhodes’ pusher went for a spin and brought out the first caution for incident.
Rhodes said his truck was still loose, especially in traffic. Deiny said, “We definitely need to thank Rajah for getting us where we’re at here!” Rhodes responded in the affirmative.
Randolph worked up a game plan to bring Rhodes in for right side tires only to set him up for the final stretch of the race. He also confirmed they were good on fuel for “a few” overtime situations. Rhodes lined up P17 for the restart with 22 to go.
20 to Go
With 20 to go, Rhodes was running P16 which he maintained for three more laps. Then, some of the leaders started to pit, starting with ThorSport teammate Ty Majeski.
While sitting P14, Randolph said, “Total focus. About 10 of these guys in front of you will be right at it or short.”
With 13 to go, Caruth back to Rhodes’ bumper with a hefty push. With nine the go, Rhodes had fallen to P17 and teams were discussing “heavy rain” around the track. Suddenly, the caution was out.
Rhodes told his crew chief the same story, “I’m still just wrecking loose.” Randolph said, “It’s eight to go, we’ve got what we got. We’re staying out here.”
Then, the red flag was displayed and drivers brought their trucks to pit road.
After a brief delay, drivers re-fired their trucks and returned to the track, but just as quickly, the rain returned, as did the red flag. After another delay, drivers were called back to their trucks to try again.
Rhodes lined up P17 and with three to go, it was down to fuel for the leaders. He was immediately bottom of three down the frontstretch and had gained a spot. As he took the white flag, he fell to P18 as Daniel Dye worked around the No. 99.
The leaders made it on fuel and the race stayed green till the checkers. Rhodes brought it home P18.
As the sun set on Long Pond, Pa, Randolph told his driver and team, “Way to hang in there and battle. I know we didn’t have a lot to work with today. Guys on pit road, heads up. We’ve got to really get to work these next couple of races.”
Sponsor Shoutout + Driver & Team Socials
NASCAR fans know sponsors make the sport go ’round. We want to give a shoutout to Kuboto who played a huge part of the weekend for Ben and the No. 99 team.
Be sure to give Ben Rhodes (Facebook, Instagram, X) and ThorSport Racing (Facebook, Instagram, X) a follow to keep up with the latest news from the driver and team.
