Ricky Stenhouse Jr – Daytona 500 Advance
Team: No. 17 Fastenal Ford Fusion
Crew Chief: Nick Sandler
Primary Chassis: New chassis
ADVANCE NOTES
· Stenhouse in the Sprint Unlimited
o Despite the damage to his Fastenal Ford that was obtained in a 14 car pile-up on lap 45 in Saturday night’s Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was working his way up through the field before a cut tire sent him into the outside wall resulting in a 16th-place finish.
· Stenhouse at Daytona International Speedway
o By posting one of the top-four speeds during Sunday’s qualifying session, Stenhouse Jr is locked into the 57th running of the Daytona 500.
o The Olive Branch, Miss. native will line up ninth during Thursday night’s second Duel to set the field for the 500.
o The two-time Xfinity champion has 11 career starts at DIS.
§ Five Cup starts with an average finishing position of 18.2 and best career finish of seventh in last year’s Daytona 500.
§ Six Xfinity starts with an average starting position of 8.2.
· Fastenal in the Daytona 500
o Fastenal has appeared in the Daytona 500 as a primary sponsor the past three years earning one pole in 2012 and a best finish of eighth in 2012.
· Crew Chief Nick Sandler’s career stats in the Daytona 500
o In the past four Daytona 500 races with Sandler as the lead engineer, the Asheville, N.C native has one win with Kenseth in 2012 and an average finishing position of 21.25.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on the Daytona 500:
“As a driver we all want to win the Daytona 500 which is our Super Bowl,” Stenhouse said. “The Roush Fenway guys brought some fast Fords down here. We are locked in to the 500 based on speed which is huge. Our Fastenal Ford has been at the top of the board during the practice sessions so far so I am definitely looking forward to the Duels and the 500. We will have to talk about our strategy for the Duels because we want to make sure we have this car for the 500 but also want a good starting position. I think the 500 is going to be an exciting race after what we saw in the Sprint Unlimited so hopefully we can have our Fastenal Ford near the front to go for the win.”
Nick Sandler on the Daytona 500:
“The Sprint Unlimited was a great opportunity for Ricky and I to work together under race conditions and allowed our team to work out any issues before the Daytona 500 which is when it really counts. Our No. 17 Fastenal Ford is really fast. After earning one of the four spots based on speed that guarantee a starting position in the 500, we can breathe a sigh of relief. Like the Unlimited, I think the Daytona 500 will be an exciting race. The 500 is a much longer race and you have to be there at the end so hopefully we can avoid the big one and have our Fastenal Ford in a position to go for the win at the end.”
