Loudon, N.H.  (July 21, 2019) – After earning a career high 11th-place starting position at the ‘Magic Mile’, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. cut a tire sending the Fastenal Ford into the outside wall forcing him to settle with a 36th-place finish in Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

“The No. 20 got into us and I guess it cut our left front,” Stenhouse said. “We were just struggling with our Fastenal Ford. We were looking to just make it to the end of the stage and work on it again and make some more adjustments, but, all in all, a pretty frustrating day.  We had a decent run here last year, but it’s definitely not the day we wanted.  We didn’t want it to end this way, but we’ll move on and go to next week.”

After earning a career best 11th-place starting position at Loudon, the Olive Branch, Miss. native steadily ran in the top 15 until the first caution flag waved on lap 45. Despite battling a tight machine, crew chief Brian Pattie made a strategy call taking two tires lining Stenhouse up on the outside of the front row for the restart.

Even though Stenhouse lost a few positons on the start due to fresher tires, the two-time Xfinity champion maintained running his fastest lap of the race only eight laps in after the restart. As the run progressed and the handling faded, Stenhouse took the first green-checkered flag in the 20th position.

After making a lengthy pit-stop in hopes to help the tight Fastenal Ford, Stenhouse restarted in the 20th position. The Roush Fenway Racing driver was racing for position when contact was made with the No. 20 machine cutting the left-front tire sending the Fastenal Ford hard into the outside wall ultimately ending his day forcing him to settle with a 36th-place finish.
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Next up for Stenhouse and the No. 17 team is Pocono Raceway. The Gander RV 400 is scheduled for Sunday July 28, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. EST on NBCSN. Race coverage can also be heard on MRN and SIRIUS XM Channel 90.

JOLIET, Ill. (June 30, 2019) – After a lengthy rain delay sent the race into the evening hours, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. drove his Fastenal Racing Ford to a 12th-place finish in Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) race at Chicagoland Speedway.

“Overall it was a good day for our Fastenal Ford,” Stenhouse said. “From practice to qualifying, the team overhauled our Ford. Our car showed some speed late in the runs, and we were comparable to the top-five cars. We still need to find some speed but overall a decent weekend for our Fastenal Ford.”

On the start of the 267-lap race, the Olive Branch, Miss. native lined up in the 24th position and quickly picked up five positions before the red flag was displayed on lap 11 for lightning in the area. The massive storm caused a three-hour delay.

When the red flag was lifted, crew chief Brian Pattie brought the Fastenal Ford for tires and fuel in hopes to help the tight handling condition. With the remainder of the stage going caution free until the caution flag waved just two laps shy of the stage end, Stenhouse Jr. was scored in the 16th position still battling a tight condition.

With most of the leaders pitting during the stage break, the two-time Xfinity champion lined up in the third position for the second 80-lap stage. With the restarts causing four-wide racing, Stenhouse was shuffled back to 14th when the caution flag waved on lap 102.

After a chassis adjustment under the yellow flag condition, Stenhouse lined up in the 12th position for the restart and bullied his way inside the top 10 within 10 laps. As the lateral rear grip faded, Stenhouse fell just outside of the top 10 taking the second green-checkered flag in the 11th position.

Steadily running in the top-10 for a majority of the final stage and being one of the fastest cars late in the run, Stenhouse relinquished the lead with 45 laps remaining for a green flag scheduled pit-stop. With the race staying green, the Roush Fenway Racing driver battled back to earn a 12th-place finish.
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Stenhouse and the No. 17 team travel to Daytona International Speedway for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 where he picked up the win in 2017. Race coverage begins at 7 p.m. EST on NBCSN.