AVONDALE, Ariz. — NASCAR driver Ben Rhodes was having himself A NIGHT on Friday at Phoenix Raceway after he finished third in the NASCAR Truck Series finale and won his first championship. And while plenty of it was from the excitement of his championship run, some of it was also likely because of what he referred to as his good friend Bud.”
“Bud” meaning Bud Light, and Rhodes said he had “four real fast” before his post-race press conference. And then he brought a can of it to the media appearance, and, after a few minutes and some amazing moments, the can was eventually taken away by a public relations rep and replaced with a bottle of water.
That particular moment happened at the 4:55 mark in this video.
“The Bud is amazing tonight,” Rhodes said before it was taken away.
“I’m a lightweight,” he added. “I’m definitely a lightweight. I had a decent amount of champagne in the champagne shower because I love champagne. That’s the taste of victory.”
Rhodes opened his media appearance by predicting it would be the “weirdest press conference ever,” and it’s definitely up there. But he had some really spectacular and hilarious quotes, which included imitating engine sounds, the phrase “McLovin it,” briefly singing Welcome To The Jungle and realizing he was talking very, very fast at times.
It’s worth watching the whole thing if you have the time, but if not, here are some of Rhodes’ highlights.
For your viewing pleasure…
All the great moments from the @benrhodes press conference 😎🍺 pic.twitter.com/6hqDyMMdeA
— Alan Cavanna (@AlanCavanna) November 6, 2021
“I was pissed. Piiiissed. And let me say something. I got the mic so I can say it anyways. So I was pissed. And here’s how this went down. I said, ‘Zane Smith, this is checkers or wreckers. I’m gonna blow the motor trying to catch you. [Imitates car sounds.]”
I have never heard a description of how someone won a championship quite like this. Engine noises. “I was pissed.” “It ain’t happening mama jamma” and “Championship’s cool.” pic.twitter.com/hrLwrxEV5E
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 6, 2021
Was Ben Rhodes patient? He describes the final laps (and he 𝑚𝑎𝑦 have had some liquid refreshment prior to coming to the media center). pic.twitter.com/Q3fP3srF1e
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 6, 2021
“I was driving to the saturation point — that’s engineer speak. Now, I didn’t know that. I’m from Kentucky. Not everybody has teeth. Wait a minute. That’s not a good [representation] of Kentucky. Everybody has teeth in Kentucky! We drink fluoride in our water.”
And, of course, when his beverages were swapped out.
This also happens in my house after every NASCAR race pic.twitter.com/JRgSca67la
— Alanis King (@alanisnking) November 6, 2021
And Rhodes talked about how Ice Ice Baby was his go-to karaoke song, and he sang it at his wedding but doesn’t remember it.
This might be the most important question I’ve asked in my journalism career.#NASCAR #WelcomeToTheJungle @benrhodes pic.twitter.com/QaLJAdTHZT
— Daniel McFadin (@danielmcfadin) November 6, 2021
And at some point in the evening, Rhodes’ crew chief, Rich Lushes, did a “shoey” out of Rhodes’ racing shoe.
DUDE WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN YOU A STYROFOAM CUP HAD YOU JUST WAITED. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/js1rnpFTKb
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) November 6, 2021
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