A total of 37 drivers are set to compete in this afternoon’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway, one of whom has never before competed in a race.
The NASCAR Cup Series is set for the third of seven road course races on the 36-race 2021 schedule this afternoon at Sonoma Raceway. This race, the Toyota Save Mart 350, is the first race at Sonoma Raceway since June 2019, as last year’s race at the track was cancelled due to COVID-19-related restrictions.
A total of 37 drivers are set to compete in today’s 90-lap race around the 12-turn, 2.52-mile (4.056-kilometer) road course in Sonoma, California, and Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson is set to start from the pole position as a result of the starting lineup formula.
Because this is a road course race, Scott Heckert is set to return to Live Fast Motorsports behind the wheel of the #78 Ford; he made his Cup Series debut back in February in the race at the Daytona International Speedway.
But one driver set to compete in today’s race has never competed in a Cup Series race before.
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That driver is Ben Rhodes, who is set to drive the #77 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports with primary sponsorship from Kaeding Performance.
Despite being only 24 years old, the Louisville, Kentucky native is quite an experienced NASCAR driver, having competed in the Truck Series full-time since 2016. Rhodes made his Truck Series debut in 2014 and competed in 10 Xfinity Series races in 2015 before landing a full-time Truck Series ride with ThorSport Racing in 2016. He has secured five victories in 129 career Truck Series starts, including two in 10 starts so far this season. The Truck Series is off this weekend, giving him the ability to make his first career Cup Series start.
He won the race at the Daytona International Speedway road course back in February and sits in second place in the point standings. His average finish of 6.2 leads all drivers, and he secured a 10th place finish in the inaugural race at Circuit of the Americas last month.
Here is what Rhodes had to say about the opportunity to make his Cup Series debut this weekend.
"“You only get to make your first Cup start once and to do it with Spire Motorsports is pretty special. I have a fun and long history with the Spire family but we haven’t worked together in a few years so it’s nice to come full circle. It’s daunting to make my first Cup start at a road course that I have no experience at, but I’m confident the team will have the car comfortable and fast. This is pretty exciting for me, and Sonoma can’t get here quick enough.”"
The Toyota Save Mart 350 is set to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 from Sonoma Raceway beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET this afternoon.