NASCAR Cup Series

Ben Rhodes wins in front of home state fans at Kentucky

Published Jul. 12, 2018 10:07 p.m. ET

SPARTA, Ky. (AP) Ben Rhodes raced to his second career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win in front of his home state fans at Kentucky Speedway on Thursday night.

Rhodes, a native of Louisville, opted not to change his tires on the final pit and the gamble paid off as he took the lead out of pit road and then steadily pulled away from Stewart Friesen over the final 10 laps.

Friesen finished just under a second behind Rhodes. Matt Crafton, Brandon Jones and John Hunter Nemechek rounded out the Top 5.

Rhodes surged ahead of pole-sitter Noah Gragson to win Stage 1.

Gragson retook the lead and won Stage 2. He led 62 of the first 73 laps but after his Stage 2 win he came out of pit road in 13th place and finished eighth.

Series points leader Johnny Sauter finished 15th. He has a 42-point lead over Gragson.