Ricky Stenhouse Jr. held on in a two-lap sprint to the checkered flag for his first Cup win for the reason that 2023 Daytona 500. He’s third non-playoff driver to win within the first 5 races of the playoffs. Stenhouse turns into the 18th totally different winner this yr, amassing his fourth profession victory within the Cup Sequence.
He crossed the road simply 0.006s forward of Brad Keselowski who completed second and 0.027s away from William Byron who completed third.
“Felt actually good,” mentioned Stenhouse, who proceeded to climb the fence and soar into the flagstand after his winner’s interview. “We had our Chevy teammates behind us. I hoped Kyle [Larson] wasn’t going to push the 6 [Keselowski] that arduous. I knew the 24 [Byron] was in all probability going to attempt to get to the road there however this workforce has put a variety of laborious work in. Clearly, we’ve not received for the reason that [Daytona] 500 in ’23. It has been an up-and-down season. A variety of laborious work this season simply looking for slightly little bit of pace. We knew that this monitor is one in all ours to return get.”
The driving force of the No. 47 JTG-Daugherty Racing Chevrolet additionally took a second to say these affected by the devastating hurricane that precipitated unprecedented harm to Western North Carolina.
“Bought to say we’re occupied with everyone in Western North Carolina. Brad Daugherty (JTG co-owner), his household proper the place he grew up there in Black Mountain, lots of people are struggling. I want my spouse and son, Stetson, have been right here. They did not come this weekend. I am going to see you all at house, and man, what I day.”
Larson was fourth and Erik Jones completed fifth for his greatest results of the 2024 season. Christopher Bell, Justin Haley, Austin Dillon, Bubba Wallace, and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-ten.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr, JTG Daugherty Racing, Kroger Well being/Palmolive Chevrolet Camaro
Photograph by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
It was a reasonably clear race till afterward. After serving a pass-through penalty for unapproved changes earlier than the race, Daniel Suarez spun out and remained trapped off the lead lap for the rest of the race.
Chris Buescher ended up successful the opening stage in a clear run to the road. Sadly, the identical cannot be mentioned for the end to Stage 2.
Whereas Austin Cindric approached the road to gather the green-and-white checkered flag, Ryan Blaney received turned in the course of the pack. He shot throughout the monitor and made heavy contact with Ross Chastain, ending each of their days.
20+ vehicles concerned in race-stopping crash
The race featured a formidable quantity of four-wide motion, however no massive crashes into the closing moments. After the ultimate cycle of green-flag stops, Cindric emerged with the race lead. He led the underside line whereas Stenhouse led the cost from the surface. With lower than 5 laps to go, a large wreck instantly halted the race.
Keselowski pushed Cindric on the left-side of his rear bumper after they made their means round a slower automobile. The shove despatched Cindric spinning in the course of pack, amassing over half the sphere and eliminating a number of playoff drivers. NBC initially claimed that 28 vehicles have been concerned, making it the largest Talladega crash in NASCAR Cup Sequence historical past. Nevertheless, the official NASCAR report put the quantity at 23 complete vehicles.
Stenhouse, regardless of getting hit within the door in the course of the wreck, stored it straight and inherited the race lead. After the pink flag, the occasion moved into extra time. With a push from Byron, he was in a position to fend off Byron and snap a winless streak that lasted 65 races.
Heading into the Spherical of 12 elimination race, Chase Elliott sits on the bubble. He’s 13 factors forward of Joey Logano, 20 factors forward of Suarez, 29 factors forward of Cindric, and 32 factors forward of Chase Briscoe.
Watch: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: ‘This win is admittedly actually particular’ after Talladega
