Defending champion Ben Rhodes finally turning the corner in 2024

For the first eight races of the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, defending champion Ben Rhodes looked like a shell of himself. 

Rhodes only collected one top-10 finish in the first eight events of the season and fell as low as 25th in points after his extremely rough start to the season. 

It almost felt like Rhodes, who also won the Truck Series crown in 2021, was a victim of the Monstars swiping his talent, a la "Space Jam." However, the 27-year-old driver has improved considerably over the last four races, even finding himself back in the Truck Series playoff picture with four races to go in the regular season. 

Rhodes' turnaround started with a crew chief swap at Darlington - Rich Lushes, who helped Rhodes win both of his championships, was given to Jake Garcia, while Doug Randolph came over to supervise Rhodes' No. 99 team. 

A 22nd-finish place finish at North Wilkesboro aside, the crew chief swap has been the catalyst for Rhodes returning to championship form. Finishes of fifth at Charlotte and seventh in St. Louis give Rhodes a key component he was missing in 2024 — consistency. 

The No. 99 team hasn't shown outright winning speed yet, but Friday's race at Nashville could play host to Rhodes' first victory of the season if the opportunity were to present itself. 

Sitting just 36 points above the playoff cutline, Rhodes must be careful not to give away points, but now that he has momentum behind him, it seems absurd that everyone was thinking he would miss the playoffs entirely just a month and a half ago. 

While the No. 99 team lacks pivotal playoff points, Rhodes has shown twice that he can make a playoff run when he's not expected. Rhodes wasn't the title favorite in 2021 and was even further from it in 2023. Both times, however, Rhodes pulled off a championship run. 

While Rhodes certainly isn't a popular championship pick halfway through the season, one thing is clear: Never count Rhodes out when the odds are stacked against him.