Ricky Stenhouse Jr. overcame a slow start during Sunday’s FTP 500 to make his way into the top 20 before mechanical issues sent the 2013 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year to the garage for repairs, resulting in a 40th-place finish.
“I am proud of my team,” Stenhouse said. “We didn’t give up and we finished the race. We will have to go back and see what broke. The past two weeks have really hurt us in the point standings so we have to get better. It’s early in the season so we will rebound in Texas.”
Stenhouse Jr. felt a strange vibration in his No. 17 Ford Ecoboost Ford on lap 357, and although the crew worked feverishly to repair the issue, he returned to the track with 38 laps remaining and was forced to settle for the disappointing finish.
Roush Fenway Racing teammate Carl Edwards fared better on Sunday, settling for a 13th-place finish, while Greg Biffle finished in 18th place.
Kurt Busch picked up his 25th career victory as he beat out Jimmie Johnson for the victory at Martinsville Speedway.
RFR returns to action next Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway for the Duck Commander 500.
Photo via Twitter/@MRNRadio
