Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA

Stenhouse gets best career Martinsville finish

Comes homes 15th after a bad pit call.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing Ford

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing Ford

Action Sports Photography

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing Ford
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing Ford
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing Ford
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing Ford
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing Ford
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing Ford
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing Ford

After earning the lucky dog position with less than 100 laps remaining, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. lined up in the second position after a strategy call to not pit for the final five lap shoot out. Newer tires prevailed forcing Stenhouse to settle with a 15th-place finish on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway; his best career finish at the half-mile track.

“I’m really proud of our team today,” Stenhouse said. “We fought all day and just tried to stay out of trouble. We gambled on that final caution and stayed out and if I would have lined up on the inside lane, I might have been able to hang on but overall it was great team effort today.”

Earning his best qualifying effort at the paper-clip shaped track, the two-time NASCAR Nationwide champion started the 500-mile race in the 18th position and maintained his ground, but as the race progressed his ‘Pit For a Pair’ Ford became tight forcing Stenhouse to lose a few positions on the long run.

After multiple cautions late in the race, the Olive Branch, Mississippi native earned the lucky dog position and was back on the lead lap with less than 80 laps remaining.

When the final yellow flag was displayed on lap 488 setting up a five lap shootout, crew chief Mike Kelley chose to leave Stenhouse out to gain track position.

 Lining up in the second position in the outside lane, Stenhouse Jr. battled for the final five laps but newer tires and the inside lane prevailed leaving Stenhouse to settle for a 15th-place finish.

Stenhouse and the No. 17 team return to action next Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway for the AAA Texas 500. Race coverage starts at 3:00 pm EST on ESPN.

Roush Fenway

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Late accident costs Danica Patrick a good finish at Martinsville
Next article NASCAR Notebook, Martinsville: 2nd a mixed blessing for Gordon

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA