NASCAR Cup Series

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., fresh off his second victory of the season a week ago in Daytona, spoke with media at Kentucky Speedway following both Cup practice sessions. Among the topics were Stenhouse’s post-Daytona win celebration and more.

SPARTA, Ky. -- Kyle Larson topped the chart in final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Kentucky Speedway.

MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Circle K Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - Talk about coming to Kentucky and what you expect this weekend? “We’ve done okay here. Last year we ran much better than our finishing position. We just – I think there were seven of them that made it on fuel in front of us and we didn’t make it, but it’s been a good track. We’ve performed pretty well here in the past, but this is the third different configuration I guess we’ve raced on - our second repave. I don’t really know what we’re going to have here until really we get going. It’s been a good track. I enjoy it.”

KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 TARGET CHEVROLET SS – Quickest in Final Practice at Kentucky Speedway - ON THE TWO PRACTICE SESSIONS AND WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN IF WE DO NOT GET QUALIFYING IN THIS AFTERNOON: “I thought in race trim we were pretty good."

SPARTA, Ky. -- Matt Kenseth's announcement that he doesn't expect to return to Joe Gibbs Racing next season set off the 2017 silly season domino chain.

SPARTA, Ky. -- Jamie McMurray topped the chart in first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Kentucky Speedway.

Kenseth will be trying for a repeat of his 2013 triumph this weekend. With Joey Logano only three points behind him in points, a win is essential. He has the series third-best driver rating (107.9), three top fives and six top 10s. But did you know that with his win in 2013, Kenseth became the oldest Kentucky winner (06/30/2013 – 41 years, 3 months, 20 days)? Another trip to Victory Lane would be icing on the cake.

Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team are hoping to capitalize this weekend on the speed they’ve shown in their past two trips to Kentucky Speedway.

ERIK JONES, No. 77 SiriusXM Toyota Camry, Furniture Row Racing - Talk about coming back to Kentucky, especially with Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky right down the road in Georgetown. "It always nice to come back to Kentucky. It’s been a good track too. I’ve had – I feel like we should’ve won a few races here in the past couple years between truck and XFINITY. Just haven’t had it quite work out between mistakes I’ve made and pit strategies we’ve had and the way they’ve played out, it just hasn’t worked out."

Welcome to the Eeyore edition of the Hot 20. Last week, it was Daytona. That was the Happy Snoopy Dance version. This Saturday night, it is Kentucky. My level of excitement is slightly subdued.