LOUDON, N.H. — As he prepares for his first full season as a Cup driver next year, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will run at least three more races in NASCAR’s premier series in 2012, team owner Jack Roush said Saturday.
Roush, however, isn’t averse to adding events to Stenhouse’s Cup plans, if circumstances dictate doing so. Stenhouse’s main focus this year is defending his Nationwide Series title, but Cup experience may play into that.
“Right now, we’re organized for three races for him at Dover, Charlotte and Homestead,” Roush said Saturday. “But if we decide his prospects for winning the Nationwide championship are improved by running more Sprint Cup races, we’ll do that.
“And if we decide there’s a sponsor that expresses interest and wants to take a look at him, or to be on board for an additional venue, we’ll do that as well.”
Last week at Chicagoland, Roush Fenway Racing announced a commitment from Best Buy for 12 races as primary sponsor on Stenhouse’s No. 17 Cup car next year. Fifth Third Bank and Zest also are on board as primaries for several races, but Roush indicated that approximately 30 percent of the inventory on his cars is still available.
BACK ON TOP
Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota was the fastest car in Friday’s opening Cup practice. Then, because his team mistakenly ran racing tire pressures instead of qualifying tire pressures for Friday’s time trials, Hamlin qualified 32nd. In Saturday’s two practice sessions, however, Hamlin was back on top of the speed charts at 131.656 mph and 132.053 mph, respectively, suggesting that a run through the field is likely on Sunday. . . . Dale Earnhardt Jr. was pleased with changes made to his car during Saturday’s final practice. With 22 minutes left in the session, Earnhardt, who qualified 14th for Sunday’s race, radioed to crew chief Steve Letarte, “Pretty easy to drive, considering what I’ve been driving all weekend — just a little snug.” Earnhardt was tied for ninth-fastest in the session, matching the speeds of Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick (130. 959 mph).
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
- NASCAR to debut new short track package at Phoenix - February 28, 2023
- The Wrench Who Stole Racing - December 16, 2022
- Matt DiBenedetto’s excellent run comes to abrupt, violent end - February 17, 2019
