Stenhouse Jr. Drives SunnyD Ford to 13th-Place Finish at ISM Raceway |

03/11/2019

Stenhouse Jr. Drives SunnyD Ford to 13th-Place Finish at ISM Raceway

AVONDALE, Ariz. (March 10, 2019) – After starting 19^th in Sunday’s Ticket Guardian 500 at ISM Raceway, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. steadily marched forward driving his SunnyD Ford to a 13^th-place finish.

“Overall, we struggled this weekend with the handling,” Stenhouse said. “Our crew did a great job on pit-road today and with strategy, we were able to get a solid finish. We know we are capable of running better, but big picture wise, it was a good weekend for us.”

The SunnyD Ford rolled off the grid in the 19^th position where Stenhouse maintained when the first yellow flag was displayed on lap 28. With an ill-handling machine, crew chief Brian Pattie brought the SunnyD Ford to pit-road for four tires, fuel, and air pressure adjustment. A speedy pit-stop by the No. 17 crew gained Stenhouse five positions for the restart lining the SunnyD Ford up in the 12^th position.

Shortly after the first pit-stop, the two-time Xfinity champion radioed in that he had a vibration. Luckily a caution flag was displayed shortly after allowing Stenhouse to bring his Ford to pit-road for four tires and a chassis adjustment. With differing pit strategies and some cars staying out, Stenhouse took the first green checkered in the 19^th position.

After battling a tight machine in stage two, the Olive Branch, Miss. native dropped to 16^th by the time the yellow flag waved just three laps shy of the stage end forcing stage two to end under caution.

With a flurry of late race cautions and differing pit strategies, crew Brian Pattie brought Stenhouse to pit-road with 84 laps remaining to top off with fuel in case the race went green. With a top contender running out of gas with five laps remaining, Stenhouse was able to take the checkered flag in the 13^th position.

Next up for Stenhouse and the No. 17 team is the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday, March 17. Race coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. (EST) on FOX. Coverage can also be heard on MRN and NASCAR SIRIUS/XM radio channel 90.