11/18/2015
Stenhouse Jr. Finishes 41st in Rain Shortened Race at Phoenix
AVONDALE, Ariz. (November 15, 2015) – After a seven hour rain delay pushed the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race into the evening hours, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was running in the 20th position before his Cargill/Sam’s Club Ford got loose causing him to make contact with the outside wall. Due to not having any brakes, Stenhouse took his Ford to the garage for repair but as the team was feverishly working the red flag was displayed due to rain. Due to a heavy down pour, NASCAR called the race forcing Stenhouse to settle for a 41st-place finish.
“That was disappointing,” Stenhouse said afterwards. “We had a decent run here earlier in the spring and I think we could have had a decent finish tonight. We will put this behind us and head to Homestead for the final race of the year. We’ve struggled this year but my guys have never given up.”
After battling a loose machine in qualifying on Friday, the Olive Branch, Miss. native lined up in the 19th position for the 312-lap race.
After rain drenched the one-mile speedway for a majority of the afternoon, the two-time XFINITY champion battled a tight machine until the competition yellow was displayed on lap 40.
With the race going green for a majority of the race, Stenhouse Jr. was scored in the top-20 when suddenly his Cargill Beef Ford got loose causing him to make contact with the No. 32 machine. As the crew worked hastily to repair the mangled machine, the red flag was displayed due to rain which ceased work on the No. 17 Ford. NASCAR eventually called the race forcing Stenhouse to settle with a 41st-place finish.
Next up for Stenhouse and the No. 17 team is the Ford Ecoboost400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, November 22. Race coverage begins at 3 p.m. (EST) on NBC. Coverage can also be heard on MRN and NASCAR SIRIUS/XM radio channel 90.
