LONG POND, Pa. (August 1, 2016)- After rain postponed the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race to Monday afternoon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. overcame a speeding penalty on pit-road to earn an 18th-place finish at the ‘Tricky Triangle’.
“I think we could have gotten a few more spots but the fog moved in,” Stenhouse said. “After our struggles last year at Pocono, I’m definitely pleased with our performance. We still have some work to do but overall it was a good weekend for us. We have five races remaining to get in the Chase so we will keep plugging away.”
After being knocked out of the top-12 in the final seconds of round two of qualifying, the Olive Branch, Miss. native lined up in the 14th position for the 160-lap race. Due to rain overnight, NASCAR displayed a competition yellow at lap 15 allowing the team to work on a tight handling machine.
During green flag pit stops with 100 laps remaining, the two-time XFINITY champion had to serve a pass thru penalty for speeding on pit road causing him to lose a lap to the leaders. Stenhouse had worked his Roush Performance Ford into the free pass position getting back on the lead lap when the caution was displayed on lap 85.
After restarting in the 29th position, the 2013 NSCS Rookie of the Year bullied his way up through the field gaining eight positions in seven laps.
With weather approaching, crew chief Nick Sandler called for two tires and fuel but the handling of the Roush Performance turned to the tight condition costing Stenhouse a few positions before the red flag was displayed for fog which eventually ended the race leaving Stenhouse to settle with an 18th- place finish at Pocono.
Next up for Stenhouse and the No. 17 team is the Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International on Sunday, August 7. Race coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. on USA. Coverage can also be heard on MRN and SIRIUS radio channel 90.
