NNS Race Recap: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. overcomes adversity to capture the checkered flag at Kansas Speedway

Credit: Tyler Barrick/Getty Images



Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the No. 6 Sam’s Club Ford, captured the checkered flag at Kansas Speedway. He crossed the finish line 0.288 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Austin Dillon. This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in three races at this racetrack. He overcame going down two laps, making contact with Joey Logano and race leader Kyle Busch running out of fuel to cross the finish line first.

“That was a total team effort. The guys did an awesome job getting the car back together and we never gave up. Mike made great calls and adjustments to fix how the car drove with the damage and it was still one of the fastest cars out there. Our Sam’s Club Mustang was fast this weekend. I didn't see the win coming like this but we will take it. It was in front of a great crowd. I can’t say enough about the fans coming out and supporting us. It is a lot of fun to run in this series and especially to come to Kansas,” says Stenhouse Jr.

“All in all it was fun but I wish the outcome would have been a little different. I’m not knocking fuel mileage or nothing but it kind of stunk having to worry about that. I think that the No. 33 (Paul Menard), No. 18 (Kyle Busch) and myself were the fastest cars out there,” said Austin Dillon.

“It was wild one for sure. Just too tight. Too tight in the beginning and just going backwards and got fenced. Went down two laps, fixed it, got back on the lead lap and just fought hard. My guys did a great job trying to fix this thing and getting us the best finish possible. It’s owner’s points here with the 18 car, so trying to get the GameStop Toyota to finish third – that’s good. Not very happy on the way we did it, but we’ll take it,” stated Joey Logano.

The drivers who finished out the top ten were Elliott Sadler, Cole Whitt, Kyle Busch, Justin Allgaier, Michael Annett, Sam Hornish Jr. and Danica Patrick.

Race Cautions:
  1. No. 11 – Frontstretch spin
  2. No. 08 – Turn 4 accident
  3. No. 11 – Backstretch spin
  4. No. 39 – Turn 4 accident
  5. No. 11 – Backstretch accident
  6. No. 41 - Turn 3 accident
  7. No. 70 – Turn 3 accident
  8. Debris
  9. No. 24 – Turn 4 accident
  10. Debris
  11. No. 19 – Frontstretch spin
  12. No. 8 & No. 44 – Turn 2 accident

Race Highlights:
  • 14 lead changes with six different leaders – Menard (110 laps), Logano (34 laps), Kyle Busch (29 laps), Stenhouse Jr. (25 laps), Austin Dillon (5 laps) and Allgaier (3 laps)
  • 12 race cautions (record high at Kansas Speedway)
  • 15 race infractions (pitting before pit road is open, safety violation, too many crew members in contact with the pit area, pre-race to the rear and speeding)
  • Sadler leads the Nationwide standings by six points over Stenhouse Jr.
  • Stenhouse Jr.’s sixth victory and 23 top 10 finishes in 2012.
Unofficial Race Results: click here.

The NASCAR Nationwide Series will be heading to Texas Motor Speedway (Nov. 3) and the race will be broadcast on ESPN at 7:00 p.m. ET.


Unique Hiram is an Associate Editor/Contributing Writer/Media Rep for Skirts and Scuffs. Additionally, she is also the author of "Fast Lane Poetry," which was published April 2011. Unique can be contacted via email or through Twitter.
NNS Race Recap: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. overcomes adversity to capture the checkered flag at Kansas Speedway NNS Race Recap: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. overcomes adversity to capture the checkered flag at Kansas Speedway Reviewed by Unique Hiram on Saturday, October 20, 2012 Rating: 5