03/22/2019
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – Martinsville Advance
ADVANCE NOTES
Stenhouse Jr. at Martinsville Speedway
Stenhouse has 12 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) starts at Martinsville with an average starting position of 22.8.
Out of his 12 starts, Stenhouse has scored two top-10 finishes, both coming in 2017.
Last time at Martinsville
After losing a lap to the leaders, Stenhouse was able to capitalize on the late race caution on lap 457 and take the wave around to get back on the tail end of the lead lap. With past Martinsville races having a string of late-race cautions, crew chief Brian Pattie hoped for a quick caution to pit for four fresh tires. Unfortunately, the race went green forcing Stenhouse to settle with a 19th-place finish.
Virginia Natives
Two members of the No. 17 team grew up close to Martinsville Speedway. Engine tuner Jonathan Salmons was raised in Bassett, Virginia, which is approximately 15 miles north of Martinsville Speedway. Veteran truck driver DeWayne Zirkle is from Roanoke, Virginia which is approximately an hour north of the track.
On the Car
Fastenal is currently in its eighth season as a primary partner in the MENCS for Roush Fenway. They spent three years on the No. 99 before jumping over to the No. 17 entry, and were the primary partner on the No. 60 Xfinity team that captured the owner’s championship in 2011.
So Far in 2019
Stenhouse has scored one top-10 in the first five races. He currently sits 11th in driver point standings and has an average starting position of 9.2 and average finish of 12.8.
Stenhouse Jr. on racing at Martinsville:
“Martinsville statistically hasn’t been a really good track for me but on the other hand it’s one of (Brian) Pattie’s favorite tracks. We have always had a lot of brake issues at Martinsville. In 2017, we scored two top-10s so I know we are capable. It’s a long race so we will keep adjusting on our Fastenal Ford and hopefully can score another solid finish.”
