By Cole Cusumano, Staff Writer
The NASCAR Cup Series’ return to the Brickyard 400 brought an iconic battle of wits and survival back to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a crown jewel event that was difficult for even the sport’s best to get a grasp of. From the time the cars first hit the 2.5-mile oval, to when the yellow-and-checkered flags waved at the conclusion of double overtime, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. stood his ground as one of the series most consistent drivers over the past month.
Entering the hallowed grounds of Indianapolis, Stenhouse had compiled three top-10 finishes over his last five starts. The successful stretch began back at Iowa Speedway, where the two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion notched his second top-five of the season, tying his total from 2023.
Although his 12th full-time Cup campaign may have gotten off to a slow start with just two top-10s over 15 starts, Stenhouse and the No. 47 crew have not only found speed, but been able to persevere through situations that would have historically set them back.
Following back-to-back quality finishes, Stenhouse wrecked late at Nashville Superspeedway. The next week, he placed sixth at the Chicago Street Course. Most recently, he was collected in another late race incident at Pocono Raceway, which resulted in his second DNF in three weeks.
Once again, even with the pressures and prestige of returning to the Brickyard, the JTG Daugherty Racing team rose to the occasion.
Stenhouse began the weekend by posting the 17th-fastest overall time in practice. On Saturday, he qualified a season-best ninth after advancing into the final round for the first time all year. This is where he would stay for a majority of the 167-lap event, won by Kyle Larson.
By the end of Stage One, Stenhouse stabilized where he qualified in ninth, while he improved to seventh by the end of the second segment. In what was an incredibly even-keeled day for how wildly unpredictable the complexion of this race was, he placed just outside the top-10 in 11th.
“Our No. 47 Kleenex 100 Years / Donors Choose Chevy was really good,” Stenhouse said. “Qualifying was really solid yesterday and that set us up to get points in both stages. The way those cautions fell, we could have done with one less of them. Running in the top-10 there, it sputtered a little bit coming to the white (flag) and then the caution came out, so that was a fortunate one.
“All-in-all, happy about our day and good momentum going into the off weekends,” Stenhouse added. “We have had a solid month-and-a-half; two crashes late in the race, and a set of top-15s. Other than that, we have been battling for top-10s, so really happy.”
Going into the Olympic break, Stenhouse can rest easy knowing the No. 47 bunch has hit on something, as he recharges with his wife Madyson and two-week-old son Stetson Steele. But once he returns, top-15 days won’t cut it if he wants to qualify for his second consecutive postseason appearance.
Sure, top-15 days with top-10 upside are welcomed weekly numbers for the JTG Daugherty Racing team. However, sitting 25th in the standings and 177 points back from the cutoff, Stenhouse will need to break through for his fourth career Cup victory over the next four races beginning with Richmond Raceway on August 11.