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Ben Rhodes taking the lead in the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150.

A pair of rookies ruled at the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Greenville Pickens Speedway in South Carolina.

Ben Rhodes celebrating his win at the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.

Rookie Ben Rhodes won the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150. Rookie Ronnie Bassett Jr. was second. Rhodes, a 17-year-old from Louisville, Kentucky, took over the lead in the K&N Pro Series East standings.

Rhodes dominated the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee, but couldn't close the deal at the end. He led all but the final two laps of the race at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 15.

"Last week at Bristol was bittersweet," Rhodes said. "We won a couple awards and qualified on the pole and had a really good race. We weren't there at the end. We saved our stuff here."

The rookie driver led the final 26 laps of the race at Greenville Pickens Speedway to win the first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race of his short career.

Bassett Jr. had the best race of his short career at Greenville Pickens. He posted his first top-five finish in six NASCAR K&N Pro Series East races.

Coors Brewing Company presents Ben Rhodes with his third 21 Meals 21 Pole Award.

"It was my fault we come up one short," Bassett Jr. said. "We should have saved a little bit more and came up stronger at the end. We'll learn and come back next time and be a little stronger."

Rhodes was making his 11th career NASCAR K&N Pro Series East start. He has a pair of third-place finishes in the K&N Pro Series East. His most recent third-place finish came at the Bristol race.

Rhodes won the pole and led the first 80 laps of the race at Greenville Pickens. Cameron Hayley took over the lead on lap 81. Kaz Garla passed Hayley for the lead on lap 85 and held it for 14 laps.

Hayley regained the lead on lap 100, but Rhodes took over on lap 125. He held the lead until the checkered flag dropped and survived a pair of caution periods. One involved seven cars on lap 138.

The drivers assume the ready position on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East field.

Hayley, making his first start at Greenville Pickens Speedway, finished in third. He started on the outside pole and led 29 laps.

"It was difficult to gauge how hard to go before and after the break," Hayley said. "The pace was really fast, so you couldn't give up too many positions. It was a good night overall and we'll head to Richmond and try to get a win there."

Jesse Little was fourth, followed by Daniel Suarez in fifth. Suarez won the first two NASCAR K&N Pro Series East races of the season. But he lost his lead in the K&N Pro Series East standings after the Greenville Pickens race.

Rhodes has a seven-point lead over Suarez after four races. Grey Gaulding is third in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East standings, nine points behind Rhodes.

"I think we have the points lead now and I think we're all happy, happy," Rhodes said. "I can't thank these guys enough."

The next NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race is the Blue Ox 100 at Richmond International Raceway on April 25.

Brandon McReynolds started in the pole position in the NAPA Auto Parts 150.

It’s safe to say Patrick Staropoli is a quick study.

Staropoli driving his #99 PEAK Toyota at Irwindale Speedway in the NAPA Auto Parts 150

A year ago, he was a full-time college student. He won the first race of his NASCAR K&N Pro Series West career at Irwindale Speedway. It was the sixth K&N Pro Series start of his career.

Staropoli, a 24-year-old from Plantation, Florida, finished in the top 10 in four of his first K&N Pro Series starts. He finished fifth in K&N Pro Series West debut in Spokane, Washington, last year. In his most recent K&N Pro Series East race, he was sixth at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee.

“I don’t even know where to start,” said Staropoli. “I knew we had a good car coming into this race. Didn’t know how it would all play out, how you were going to have to save tires over the course of 150 laps.” Staropoli began the NAPA Auto Parts 150 in fifth position and moved his way to the front early in the race.

Patrick Staropoli celebrates his victory at the NAPA Auto Parts 150 at Irwindale Speedway.

“The green flag started, we just went right up to the front, got up in second, was riding there,” Staropoli said. “I knew we would have to conserve those, so we dropped all the way back to, I don’t know, 13th, 14th, got a little bit worried there.”

Staropoli and his team employed the same strategy as some of the other drivers in the race. He fell back to conserve his tires and equipment hoping for a chance to win the race. Five drivers took turns leading the race.

“As it got close to the end, we knew it was go time,” Staropoli said. “Put the hammer down and started slicing through the field. I’m so excited to be here right now talking to you guys. I never imagined a year ago I would be in this position.”

Patrick Staropoli holds his trophee up high for all his fans to see at Irwindale Speedway NAPA Auto Parts 150.

Brandon McReynolds, the pole winner, and Greg Pursley swapped the lead for the first 26 laps of the race. Brett Thompson took the lead on lap 27 and held it for 99 laps. Ryan Partridge passed Thompson for the lead on lap 129.

Staropoli made his move to the front on lap 137. He was out front for the remainder of the race. There was a cautionary period during lap 130 that tightened up the field, but Staropoli held off for his first K&N Pro Series West win.

“I was counting on that last caution,” Staropoli said. “We got up there. We had a great battle for the lead. I hope that was exciting for all the fans.”

David Mayhew, who started on the front row with McReynolds, was second in the race. “We were kind of on the same plan as Greg there,” Mayhew said. “We thought everything was going good and dandy at about halfway and I’m like, yea, we’ve got this and things going nice and smooth and passed the first couple guys coming back toward the front. And it got to about 50 to go and it got to 12th and that was it. It just got real tight and everybody leveled out.”

Pursley finished third, followed by McReynolds in fourth and Dylan Lupton in fifth. “We just missed it a little bit,” Pursley said. “Good points night for us and just great to be back here at Irwindale Speedway.”

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West was making its first visit to Irwindale Speedway since 2011. Pursley has a six-point lead over McReynolds after the first two races of the K&N Pro Series West schedule.

The next K&N Pro Series West race is at Stockton 99 Speedway on May 3.

Jarett Andretti announced his plans to support the March of Dimes at the Indianapolis Fairgrounds on February 6th

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."

Jarett visited Lawrence North High School to aid with their March of Dimes fundraising.

The author of that fabled quote is Jarett Andretti's great uncle, Mario Andretti. Jarett is a blueblood member of legendary Andretti racing royalty, the son of John, cousin of Marco, nephew of Michael and grandson of Aldo. For 2014, twenty-one-year Jarett is gearing up for his first full season of competition in both the USAC National Sprint Car and Silver Crown Series. He will be driving for his uncle Michael Andretti's Autosport Short Track team.

For this season the third-generation racer has also aligned himself with the March of Dimes, one of the best-known and most respected nonprofit organizations in the country. The organization helps moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies. If something goes wrong, they offer information and comfort to families. They are also extremely active and successful with researching the problems that threaten babies and work on preventing them. Jarett took time from his busy schedule to talk with us about the March for Babies and racing.

Having had the experience of twin cousins that were born prematurely Jarett feels it's an honor to represent the March of Dimes.

What does it mean to you to be able to add your family name to the March for Babies effort, and why is that important to you?

"It is an honor to be able to work with the March of Dimes in 2014. I had a mutual friend introduce me to the March of Dimes representatives last year and their mission and goals are very close to my heart, as I had twin cousins that were born prematurely at 28 weeks and are now very healthy and happy."

2014 will be the K&N backed racer's first full season of racing.

How does your racing schedule look for this season and how does racing fit in with you going to school for a business major?

"The racing schedule is extremely busy with about 80 races on the schedule so far for 2014. We will be running the full USAC Sprint and Silver Crown schedule as well as some Pavement Sprint Car races, including the Little 500. As for school, most of the administrators and professors have been accommodating to my travel and race schedule."

College aside, what are your racing aspirations, and ideally in what direction would you like to see your racing career unfold?

"I would just like to be a professional race car driver, whether that be in the World of Outlaws, NASCAR, IndyCar, Sports Cars or USAC. Ideally, I would love to run the Indy 500 with my dad. I also have aspirations of rallying and other off-road racing, I just enjoy driving racecars."

I'm sure you've heard versions of this question many times, but overall and at this stage of your life, do you feel the Andretti name puts burdensome pressures on you, or have you learned to embrace those expectations?

"It all depends on how you look at it, it certainly brings added pressure, but at the same time I have family members to provide great advice and career guidance."

Where and when do you race next?

The next race of the season is at the No Way Out 40 at Brownstown Speedway in the Superior Auto No. 18 Sprint Car beginning March 29th.