June 17, 2018

Will Rodgers No. 7 Kelly Benefits Strategies Ford Dominates New Jersey Motorsports Park

18 JUNE 2018

MILLVILLE, N.J. (June 18, 2018) – The last three road course races for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East have each seen a familiar sight; a sight that NASCAR Next driver Will Rodgers is pretty pumped up about. All three of the events have seen Rodgers’ No.7 KELLY Benefit Strategies Ford led the way for almost all the laps and each time came home with the checkered flag. In Saturday night’s JUSTDRIVE.com 125 at New Jersey Motorsports Park, the same story was told.

Rodgers knew right from the get-go his No. 7 KELLY Benefit Strategies Ford was going to be fast. In fact, the car that Jefferson Pitts Racing brought for Rodgers to race was the same vehicle that he won with the year prior, along with a win at Watkins Glen International and second-place finish at Sonoma Raceway, CA. Both Rodgers and the car were once again fast, posting third on the speed charts in practice without a mock-qualifying run.

“Jefferson Pitts Racing always brings top-notch equipment to the race track, making each race a huge thrill and confidence booster for me,” stated Rodgers pre-race. “Knowing you have the skill to go out there and compete with some of the best is one thing, but knowing your team has put an amazing car underneath you to wheel just makes it that much more enthralling to get out there and compete.”

Rodgers qualified in the second position, matching his starting spot from the event one-year prior.

When the green flag dropped, Rodgers quickly fell in line behind the leader, patiently waiting for the right opportunity to make his move for the lead. By lap seven, the No. 7 KELLY Benefit Strategies Ford took over the top spot and set sail; Rodgers was never passed again for the remainder of the 55-lap event. Skill, patience, good judgement, and a great car allowed Rodgers to maneuver his way to victory, holding off a charge from the pack during a late-race restart with four laps to go. Once again, the No. 7 KELLY Benefit Strategies Ford would find itself in victory lane with Rodgers behind the wheel.

“My goal going into this race was to match my result from last year, so I’d say it was a success,” exclaimed Rodgers post-race. “The car felt absolutely amazing all race long, we didn’t have to make any adjustments besides fuel and tires at the half-way point pit stop. We got the win and that’s what matters, especially for my dad because it makes for a great Father’s Day gift! I’m very blessed to have KELLY Benefit Strategies and my ARCA Racing Series sponsor Drydene on board with me for this event and their support is something I value very much. I’m extremely pumped to get them a win, and I plan on doing the same when we head to Sonoma next Saturday,” Rodgers concluded.

This win gives Jefferson Pitts Racing their seventh win on a road course in the last seven races they’ve competed in; Rodgers has captured three of those wins. Still undefeated in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, Rodgers heads to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West to compete at Sonoma Raceway this weekend in the No. 7 KELLY Benefit Strategies Ford.

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ABOUT KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES

Since 1976, KELLY Benefit Strategies has delivered premier employee benefit consulting and is a trusted partner to businesses of all sizes. KELLY Benefit Strategies provides the foundation for innovative strategic vision through its unique integrated Total Benefits Solution® — combining expertise, administration, and technology to help clients save time, maximize the value of their benefits investment, and control the cost of these benefits.

ABOUT WILL RODGERS

Will Rodgers is a 23-year old professional race car driver now emerging as a top prospect in the current list of who’s who among young American racers, as he was recently announced as a member of the NASCAR Next.

Born in Hawaii, in 1994, Rodgers was introduced to go-kart racing at the age of nine. Within 18 months he was the reigning Hawaii state champ and track record holder in Maui. After his family moved to the Mainland, Rodgers garnered karting sponsorships and raced successfully for several years in California. Rodgers then followed his heart and switched to motocross racing; once again becoming a regional champion. At 17, Rodgers became a successful action sports cinematographer, earning enough money to purchase an off-road race car, which he drove to a West Coast Championship. Rodgers’ work and racing evolved into racing sports cars where he became the 2015 Mazda Sports Car Champion.

Rodgers competed in the 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and finished fifth overall in championship points. He also entered and won two of the NASCAR K&N East road course races, Watkins Glen International, N.Y. and N.J. Motorsports Park. The other road race on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series was at Sonoma, C.A. in which he finished second to NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Kevin Harvick.

Team Media Contact: Joyce Caron-Mercier, Phoenix Marketing, 704-906-4547