Rhodes Snaps Six-Year Truck Series Pole Drought

Ben Rhodes celebrates his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pole at Daytona Int'l Speedway. (Jacob Seelman/Race Face Digital photo)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Ben Rhodes admitted after NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series qualifying Friday at Daytona Int’l Speedway that he’d almost forgotten what it felt like to win a pole.

Rhodes earned the top starting spot for the season-opening Fresh From Florida 250 at the World Center of Racing by sweeping both knockout rounds during time trials.

His No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford F-150 toured the 2.5-mile high banks in 50.995 seconds (176.488 mph) to give the two-time Truck Series champion his first pole at Daytona and the sixth of his Truck Series career.

It marked his first Truck Series pole since August 2018 at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park road course, a drought of six-and-a-half years.

“This is excellent,” said Rhodes, who won on the Daytona oval in 2021. “It’s tough though, because it’s such a high moment going into the race … but we know what can happen and unfold once you get into the draft. We just have to be smart and take care of this truck, which I think is the best truck I’ve ever had at a superspeedway in my career.

“These poles are a testament to the team and all the guys that massage on this thing over the winter to get it ready to start the year, led by (crew chief) Rich (Lushes), so thanks to them and we’ll see what we can do with it later on.”

Joining Rhodes on the front row will be his teammate, defending series champion Ty Majeski. The Wisconsin driver missed out on the pole by .014 seconds after a final-round time of 51.009 seconds (176.439 mph).

Corey Heim starts third for TRICON Garage as the fastest Toyota driver in the final round, alongside CR7 Motorsports’ Grant Enfinger in fourth, who was the best Chevrolet in qualifying.

Jake Garcia in fifth made it three ThorSport entries inside the top five, followed by Chandler Smith, rookie contender Dawson Sutton, Kaden Honeycutt, and journeyman Clay Greenfield.

Johnny Sauter was unable to turn a final-round lap and closed the top 10 starters that advanced through both rounds of qualifying.

Three-time Truck Series champion Matt Crafton was the first driver that failed to advance out of the opening round, missing the cut by .015 seconds after a lap of 51.450 seconds in the No. 88 Menards Ford F-150 for ThorSport Racing. Crafton will roll off the grid 11th Friday night.

Other notables failing to make the pole round included Rajah Caruth (13th), Frankie Muniz (14th), Daniel Hemric (15th), Justin Haley (17th), Parker Kligerman (23rd), William Sawalich (26th), Layne Riggs (27th), and Michael McDowell (31st).

Tyler Ankrum’s qualifying time was disallowed after he failed to stop for the mandatory brake check prior to pulling out onto the racing surface. He’s forced to take a provisional and starts 35th in Friday night’s field.

Afterward, Ankrum noted he lacked the braking ability to fully stop in advance of beginning his time trial attempt.

“I think we had a good lap; our LiUNA Chevy was really quick,” said Ankrum. “I think we’d have made the second round, at least. It’s hard when you don’t have practice to have everything perfect … and I just braked (for the check) and there was nothing there. I know the left front locked up, and I got stopped, because the official slammed on the hood and said go.

“I went past him … and there’s no advantage to braking late at Daytona because the launch is so important, but I don’t know. It sucks for the guys.”

Stewart Friesen was not allowed to time in and will also start on a provisional after his track bar was found to not be properly sealed during pre-qualifying inspection.

Both Gio Ruggiero and Bryan Dauzat had mechanical issues on their qualifying runs, with Ruggiero posting the slowest timed lap in qualifying of 34th and Dauzat failing to qualify after failing to complete his run.

With 38 trucks on the property for 36 starting spots, Justin Carroll joined Dauzat as the other driver who did not make the grid.

Friday night’s Fresh From Florida 250 from Daytona is slated for a 7:30 p.m. ET start, with live coverage on FS1, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.