06/06/2016
Stenhouse Jr. Drives SunnyD Ford to a 15th- Place Finish at Pocono
LONG POND, Pa. (June 6, 2016)- After rain postponed the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race to Monday afternoon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was able to save enough fuel to earn a 15th-place finish at the ‘Tricky Triangle’.
“The guys did a great job making the right adjustments on our SunnyD Ford,” Stenhouse said. “We really struggled on Saturday during practice so to leave Pocono with a 15th-place finish is an accomplishment. Our team is doing exactly what we need to do in the point standings so hopefully we can keep these strong finishes going and get ourselves into the Chase.”
After barely missing round two in qualifying on Friday afternoon, the two-time XFINITY champion lined up in the 25th position for the 160-lap race. With restarts creating four and five wide racing, Stenhouse lost a few positions early on before the competition yellow was displayed on lap 15.
As green flag pit-stops were cycling thru on lap 87, a yellow flag was displayed for debris trapping some of the leaders who had already pitted. The caution was beneficial to Stehouse who restarted 15th when the green flag waved on lap 92.
On lap 119, the 2013 NSCS Rookie of the Year brought his SunnyD Ford to pit-road for his last stop of the race but was told to make sure to save fuel as crew chief Nick Sandler was going to try to stretch fuel mileage until the end of the race. Stenhouse Jr. was able to save enough fuel to take the checkered flag in the 15th position.
Next up for Stenhouse and the No. 17 team is the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, June 12. Race coverage begins at 1 p.m. on FOX Sports 1. Coverage can also be heard on MRN and SIRIUS radio channel 90.
