10/02/2016
Fuel Strategy Results in 11th-Place Finish For Stenhouse Jr. at Dover
DOVER, Del. (Oct.2, 2016) – After stretching his fuel mileage to 103 laps in the closing stages, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. drove his Fastenal Ford to an 11th-place finish in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series(NSCS) race at Dover International Speedway.
“(Crew chief) Nick (Sandler) made a great call on stretching fuel that last run,” Stenhouse said. “The No. 78 was so fast and there were only six cars on the lead lap so we had to make a strategy move to gain positions. Overall it was a great race for us. We need to carry this momentum into the final seven races.”
After rain washed out qualifying on Friday, the field was set by owner’s points lining up the Fastenal Ford in the 22nd – starting position. After losing a few positions early on to a loose- handling machine, the two-time XFINITY champion was able to slowly move through the field after the competition yellow allowed the team to make a chassis adjustment.
After earning the lucky dog position twice, Stenhouse was scored in the 17th position on the tail end of the lead lap when the final green flag waved on lap 198.
After the final green flag pit stops cycled through, Sandler told Stenhouse to save fuel in hopes to stretch fuel mileage while others would have to pit.
The 2013 NSCS Rookie of the Year was able to conserve enough fuel to complete 103 laps and take the checkered flag in the 11th position.
Stenhouse and the No. 17 team travel to Charlotte Motor Speedway next weekend for 500-miles. The race will be televised on Oct. 8 on NBC at 6:45 p.m. ET and can also be heard on PRN and SIRIUS XM Channel 90.
