RFR Heads to Sweet Home Alabama for Superspeedway Racing
Coming off the first break of the season for Easter, Roush Fenway Racing takes its Fords to Sweet Home Alabama as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) rolls into the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. RFR has eight wins all-time at Talladega including the most recent by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in 2017.
Talladega Superspeedway
Sunday, April 28 | 2 p.m. ET
FOX, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90
· Ryan Newman, No. 6 Acorns Ford Mustang
· Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 17 Fifth Third Ford Mustang
Running Clear Across Alabama
Roush Fenway has seen its fair share of success at the Alabama track, amassing 265 starts, eight wins, 43 top-five’s and 89 top-10s across NASCAR’s three major touring series. Roush machines have also tallied eight poles, including four in cup action, and have led more than 1400 laps.
Winning in Greenbow
Roush Fenway has won in all three of NASCAR’s major series at Talladega. The team won its first race at Talladega in the MENCS event in the spring of 1995. Former Roush Fenway driver Mark Martin won for the organization in all three series at the 2.66-mile oval.
Most recently, Stenhouse piloted his Fifth Third Bank Ford Fusion to victory lane two years ago when the MENCS rolled through Talladega for the organization’s eighth win at the historic track.
Roush Fenway Unrestricted
Roush Fenway has run a total of 414 MENCS races with restrictor plates, earning 12 victories, 75 top-fives, 146 top-10s and has led 1892 laps.
Fastest Chicken in the South
Former Roush Fenway driver Mark Martin won the fastest Cup race ever recorded on May 10, 1997 at Talladega piloting the No. 6 Ford. Martin, who held off NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt, started from the 18th position and led 47 laps en route to the victory. The race saw 26 lead changes and had an average speed of 188.354 mph.
Sweet Home (Fifth Third) Alabama
Fifth Third Bank, one of the primary partners on Stenhouse’s No. 17 Ford, has been a share of luck for he and the team as of late. Both of Stenhouse’s victories in 2017, which catapulted him into the MENCS Playoffs, came in a Fifth Third paint scheme. The Olive Branch, Mississippi, native’s first win in the cup series came at Talladega in this race two years ago, sporting the blue Fifth Third colors.
Tale of the Tape
Roush Fenway has started 206 MENCS races at Talladega with 72 top-10 and 36 top-five finishes along with four poles. Former drivers Mark Martin (1995, 1997), Jamie McMurray (2009) and Matt Kenseth (2012) are responsible for RFR’s combined five Cup wins and overall a Jack Roush Ford has led 1446 laps at the 2.66-mile track.
Where They Rank
Coming off Richmond and an off weekend, Ryan Newman sits inside the playoff picture, listed 15th, but tied with Austin Dillon for 14th in driver points. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., sits 18th but just 12 points separate the 14th-19th place drivers.
Roush Fenway Talladega Wins
1995-1 Martin Cup
1997-1 Martin Cup
1997 Martin NXS
2006 Martin Truck
2009 Ragan NXS
2009-2 McMurray Cup
2012-2 Kenseth Cup
2017-1 Stenhouse Cup
By the Numbers at Talladega Superspeedway
Race Win T5 T10 Pole Laps Led AvSt AvFn Miles
206 5 36 72 4 35190 1077 18.2 18.5 93605.4
49 2 5 14 1 4634 245 12.5 21.4 12326.4
10 1 2 3 3 865 124 3.0 15.9 2300.9
265 8 43 89 8 40689 1446 16.6 18.9 108232.7
