Ricky Stenhouse Jr. he’s a really talented superspeedway racer. His first-ever Cup victory got here on the draft circuit, his second, third and now fourth. Two Cup victories at Talladega and two at Daytona since joining the series full-time greater than a decade ago, including a dramatic victory within the 2023 Daytona 500.
However, Talladega ended very otherwise for Stenhouse, who crossed the finish line with a visual hole in his door after being hit by a spinning Austin Cindric in an enormous automobile crash involving greater than 20 people before the ultimate restart. He held it straight as a field appeared in his rearview mirror. He then won the race, beating Brad Keselowski on the within and William Byron on the skin, with a margin of victory of just 0.006 seconds.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr, JTG Daugherty Racing, Kroger Health/Palmolive Chevrolet Camaro
Photo: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
“When the twenty fourth [Byron] I jumped out, it was like a parachute hit my automobile,” Stenhouse explained. “I just hoped we might get to the finish line before them. At that time, it was a drag race. By the time I got to the back they were pretty sure we had won and were definitely relieved.
Another factor that contributed to his victory was the indisputable fact that it was three Chevrolets versus one Ford (Keselowski). Despite this, Kyle Larson still pushed Keselowski hard enough to pass Stenhouse coming out of Turn 4. To the surprise of many, including the race winner, Keselowski elected not to dam Stenhouse and Byron as the skin line moved forward in the ultimate seconds of the race.
To block or not to dam
“I was really shocked,” Stenhouse said. “I used to be waiting for the block and I used to be going to determine if I used to be clear enough to get inside and get through before 5 [Larson] or hang right and gain momentum with 24 [Byron]. Yes, I used to be very shocked that he didn't do it together with his right hand.
Earlier this yr, Michael McDowell tried to dam the lead at Talladega, which resulted in him losing the race and hitting the wall. Keselowski, a superspeedway racing veteran who had more wins at Talladega than another lively driver, later explained that he knew the Chevrolet would stick together and didn't wish to be separated once they reached the finish line.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr, JTG Daugherty Racing, Kroger Health/Palmolive Chevrolet Camaro
Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
Stenhouse would do otherwise, declaring that he was “going to dam everyone. I didn't care who it was.” Kyle Busch, who got right into a physical altercation with Stenhouse earlier this yr, tried to make the third line work in those final moments but ultimately backed down. Ultimately, Stenhouse simply had to remain exactly where he was after the restart to take the checkered flag.
“It's very difficult to win these races. It may be very difficult to avoid wrecks, get into the appropriate position and have enough fuel. There is chaos at the top of those races. I used to be grateful that we had a successful green-white check without one other warning. It's been an extended time since we could do this within the World Cup, so it was nice in a way.
“Obviously, I always feel confident coming back to a place where we've won before, and on a superspeedway, where we always feel pretty confident in our race car… We lost a few inches here, so it was nice to win one.”
Watch: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: 'This win is actually special' after Talladega
The victory obviously meant quite a bit to him. This was very evident from his quick climb over the fence before climbing the flagpole to the roar of the group. Not only was it his first victory since February 2023, but in addition his first since becoming a father. After the race, he was capable of FaceTime together with his wife Madyson and son Stetson, but was “upset” that they weren't there to have fun in person.
Stenhouse is the third non-playoff driver to win within the last 4 weeks, and he did it by putting JTG in Victory Lane for just the third time within the team's 15-year history.
