Exclusive: Ben Rhodes Addresses Tensions With Zane Smith After Nearly Jeopardising His 2023 Championship at Phoenix

Ben Rhodes has given fans yet another reason to erupt in cheers. And it’s not merely for clinching the prestigious NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship, but for it being his remarkable second triumph. Rhodes, a determined gladiator of the racetrack, engaged in a fierce battle for the Truck Series title for the third year running. His skill and tenacity paid off during the Craftsman 150 at Phoenix Raceway, where he sailed past the Championship 4—Corey Heim, Carson Hocevar, and Grant Enfinger—to secure his second series title and etch his name among the legends.

Rhodes’ initial championship win in 2021 was famously marked by jubilant festivities and the popping of a few celebratory drinks. This year, however, the victory’s sweetness was laced with a tinge of adrenaline due to a heart-stopping maneuver by Zane Smith in the second overtime, a move that threatened to dash Rhodes’ race and championship dreams.

But, showcasing the spirit of a true sportsman, Rhodes, in an exclusive interview with Essentially Sports, exuded grace and magnanimity, confirming that no grudge was held against Zane Smith. His championship glory, thus, is not just a testament to his racing prowess but also to his commendable character off the track.

Ben Rhodes has magnanimously absolved Zane Smith of any audacious tactics on the track

Ben Rhodes, an unsung hero in the high-stakes final four, defied the odds with a journey fraught with uncertainty, reaching the championship round without a single win to his credit. Amidst skepticism, he emerged as the dark horse, navigating through the round of 8 to the final quartet. In an electrifying turn of fate, while his competitors focused on outmaneuvering the favored Corey Heim, Rhodes stealthily glided to victory, seizing the series title with a strategic fifth-place finish at Phoenix Raceway. His objective wasn’t merely to win the race but to surpass Grant Enfinger, Corey Heim, and Carson Hocevar.

Executing this with finesse, Ben Rhodes outpaced Enfinger by one spot at the checkered flag, securing the championship by a hair’s breadth—a single point. His win also delivered ThorSport Racing the owner’s championship with a comparable one-point edge.

Heim, who trailed in 18th, nabbed the third spot among the Championship 4, finishing the season 12 points short of Rhodes. Hocevar’s race concluded prematurely in 29th place after a crash, placing him fourth in the overall standings, 24 points in the wake of the champion.

Watch This Story: The Unspoken Regret of a NASCAR Legend

The drama peaked on Friday, as the Truck Series finale at Phoenix Raceway was plagued with disruptions. A crash at the onset of the second overtime led to a third. The race had just resumed when Smith, at the helm, stumbled with a missed shift. The ripple effect saw Ben Rhodes’ vehicle bearing down on a collision course. Despite the significant damage to Rhodes’ No. 99 Ford, his crew maintained a posture of unwavering confidence, vouching for the truck’s resilience and combat readiness.

Ben Rhodes, in a reflective moment, conceded that his own mindset, perhaps tinged with the overconfidence of being among the championship contenders, led to the tense bump with Zane Smith. He candidly shared, “I kind of put myself in that situation because I thought, okay, we’re in the championship position. Grant Enfinger is many spots behind us. All I have to do right here is just ride. So let’s not even try to force the issue. Let’s not even try to race this guy for a win. Let’s just finish second and be happy. So I was fine just going a little bit slower on that restart and thinking I’m safe. And lo and behold, the one move I do to try to make sure I’m safe ends up almost ruining the race.”

Yet, when Essentially Sports inquired about Rhodes’ perspective on Zane Smith after the latter’s bold move during an exclusive interview, Rhodes extended a gracious dismissal of any ill sentiment since the incident didn’t derail his championship dreams. He elaborated, “This year going into this race, Zane Smith and his team helped us a lot. They really helped us develop our setup, and it gave us a lot of speed. […] He actually texted me and his team, basically apologizing about that (the on-track move). And told him we still won the championship. So no harm, no foul at the end of the day. I was telling them that I really wanted them to win the race. We finished second, and I could have just ridden to second place. And it could have been a Ford one, too.”

In the midst of this tumultuous Truck Series season, Rhodes has yet to entertain thoughts of progressing beyond, showing a firm commitment to continue his legacy where he stands—in the Truck Series battleground.

The No. 99 Ford driver contemplates the pace of his ascent in racing tiers

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As confetti settled on the Phoenix Raceway late Friday night, the 26-year-old from Kentucky shared that he feels no pressing urge to leap into the NASCAR Cup Series fray. “I really don’t have any plans at the moment to do that. Yeah, and I think that no matter what series I would be in, I would still have run,” Rhodes expressed in an exclusive interview with Essentially Sports. Ben Rhodes, whose exuberant post-victory interview following his maiden championship in 2021 became the stuff of legends, appeared in high spirits once again.

The season finale was nothing short of a rollercoaster, with the term “crazy” aptly summarizing the frenetic energy at the one-mile circuit. An exhausting twenty-nine laps of overtime were necessary to declare a winner in a race peppered with a dozen caution flags. Yet, amidst the chaos of the Truck Series, Rhodes reflects on his career trajectory with a sense of groundedness.

Read More: Ben Rhodes Smugly Credits Carson Hocevar and Corey Heim’s Lack of Patience for his Championship Feat at Phoenix

“It really isn’t so much about what I want to drive or where I want to compete as much of this is that I’ve got really awesome people around me, the team owner, Duke, and Rhonda Thorsten, the team owners,” he stated, attributing his successes to the robust support system backing him. As Ben Rhodes savors his triumph, the young champion is taking his journey one victory lap at a time, content with the pace and path of his racing career.