NASCAR Cup PR

After leading a season-high 21 laps, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was battling in the top 10 during the final green white checkered finish before contact was made as a car got loose forcing Stenhouse to settle with a 12th-place finish in Saturday night’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) race at Kentucky Speedway.

"The AAA Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was really fast to start the race today at Kentucky Speedway. We were able to run within the top-five for much of the first two Stages and earn Stage points, which is definitely an improvement over last year. We have speed, and that's a testament to all of the hard work RCR and ECR is doing. Unfortunately we had transmission and alternator issues today and spent time in the garage making repairs. I hate breaking stuff, but when you do, this No. 3 team just keeps working and never gives up. We're going to get this monkey off our back and we'll be just fine."

Brad Keselowski had an uncharacteristic race in Saturday night’s Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway, falling a lap down before finishing in the 20th position.

Toyota took three of the top-five positions in Saturday night’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway.

KURT BUSCH, NO. 1 MONSTER ENERGY CAMARO ZL1 – Race Winner - WALK US THROUGH THAT FINAL RESTART AND PASSING YOUR BROTHER (KYLE BUSCH) FOR THE WIN: “Hell ya! Hell ya! Racing your little brother every week….I’m proud of him, I’m proud that he gave me a little bit of room on that outside. He could have clobbered us against the wall and third place is probably what we would have got. But what an awesome run! We got this Monster Chevy in Victory Lane! Thank you, Kentucky!”

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang -- Finished 7th “The caution came out at the wrong time. It happens. You try to think through your notebook on how to have a good restart. I thought I was going to have a decent one but I got stopped on the left rear there when Kyle (Busch) got into me."

KURT BUSCH, NO. 1 MONSTER ENERGY CAMARO ZL1 – Qualified 4th “So far, Kentucky’s practices have shown some really good speed. The car is a little on edge with stickers, but that’s part of how Kentucky races."

DANIEL SUAREZ, No. 41 Haas Automation Ford Mustang - Qualified 1st - HOW DO YOU FEEL GOING FOR YOUR FIRST WIN TOMORROW? “I feel pretty good about it. The whole day has been pretty smooth today. The 41 Haas Automation Ford Mustang has been pretty quick. We haven’t done a lot to it. It is big when you unload the car from the hauler and the car is fast out of the box. I feel very good about it."

DANIEL SUAREZ, No. 41 Haas Automation Ford Mustang - Qualified 1st “My car has been very fast the entire day. I feel that we had probably the fastest car in the last practice and the fastest car in qualifying again. I am very proud of my guys and Ford Performance and Stewart-Haas Racing and everyone that makes this program go. We have been working very hard.”

Notes: Brad Keselowski and the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang team led the Team Penske charge in qualifying for Saturday night’s Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway by claiming the third place starting position for the race. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series winner at Kentucky, Keselowski was the fastest man in final practice before holding down the top spot in qualifying until late in the session when two fellow Ford Performance competitors topped him as the track temperatures cooled. Points leader Joey Logano will roll off from the 11th position in the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang, followed by Ryan Blaney in 15th in the No. 12 DEX Imaging Ford Mustang.