Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Takes Third Career Victory in Daytona 500

Photo by Peter Stratta/TSJSports

NASCAR

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Takes JTG Daugherty Racing to Daytona 500 Win

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Entering the 2023 Daytona 500 on a 199-race winless drought, few thought of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. as a true winning threat. In a double overtime finish though, Stenhouse was ahead at the right time as carnage unfolded behind him, being ruled ahead at the time of a last lap caution. After leading late only to be wrecked a year ago, this time Stenhouse gets his name on the Harley J. Earl Trophy as a Daytona 500 Champion.

In a bit of a departure from recent trends, the first caution for an on-track incident was not until late in Stage 2. Brad Keselowski made a late move to win Stage 1, and was in position for a Stage-sweep.

Lap 118 would see Kevin Harvick’s Ford make slight contact with Tyler Reddick’s Toyota, sending the No. 45 around with many others. This would ultimately end the chances for Reddick, Erik Jones, and Chase Elliott.

Once racing resumed for a quick dash to end Stage 2, it would be Ross Chastain beating polesitter Alex Bowman by inches to the line.

Once Stage 3 began, the RFK Racing duo of Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher flexed their Ford muscles. The 6 and 17 asserted themselves as two of the best cars as laps wound down, hoping for a 1-2 day. After the final cycle of pit stops, Keselowski was in the lead again with Buescher on his bumper. Only another pair of teammates wrestled the lead away from the Fords; the Richard Childress Racing duo of Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon.

A Daniel Suarez flat tire and spin sent the Daytona 500 into overtime. While Busch was in position to capture his first Daytona 500 triumph, another major crash took out his drafting help in teammate Dillon. This left Busch vulnerable to the hungry pack behind him, as Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was pushed ahead of the 8.

The second overtime restart saw Stenhouse line up alongside Kyle Larson, as Joey Logano pushed the 47 clear by the white flag. Entering turn one, the pack flew apart as Kyle Larson was turned in front of the field. This triggered an immediate yellow, with Stenhouse barely ahead of Logano at the time of caution.

“I think this whole off-season Mike (Kelley, crew chief) just preached how much we all believed in each other,” Stenhouse said. “They left me a note in the car that said they believe in me and to go get the job done tonight. I made a few mistakes. We were able to battle back.

“This Kroger Continental team worked really, really hard in off-season, great pit stops, Hendrick engines. Glad a Chevy won.

“Man, this is unbelievable. This was the site of my last win back in 2017. We’ve worked really hard. We had a couple shots last year to get a win and fell short. It was a tough season, but man, we got it done, Daytona 500.”

“When the 8 went to the bottom there I was able to push the 22 and the 5. We had a huge run. I was hoping we were going to get to the white there, and we didn’t, so I knew I was going to take the top. I was hoping the 22 was going to follow, and he did. He was able to push us out.

“I went to the bottom, the 8 and the 22 got a huge run. The 5 split me in the middle, but another fellow dirt racer with Bell gave me a good shot down the little short chute into 1, and we were out front when the caution came out. We were out of fuel so the fuel light was going crazy. I hope y’all had fun. That was a heck of a race.”

Thanks to his third career win and first since the 2017 Daytona summer race, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is Playoff bound with his No. 47 team. 2023 marks only the second time the Olive Branch, Mississippi native has won his way into NASCAR’s postseason. With Talladega in the pivotal Round of 12, it is not unlikely for this little team to make a deep run.

Behind Stenhouse, the Daytona 500 top-10 finishers were Joey Logano, Christopher Bell, Chris Buescher, Alex Bowman, AJ Allmendinger, Daniel Suarez, Ryan Blaney, Ross Chastain, and Riley Herbst. Hear from some of these top finishers below.

After a tremendous Daytona Speedweek, the 75th anniversary NASCAR season will continue next week in California. Xfinity and Cup Series teams will take to Auto Club Speedway for one final hurrah on the famed two-mile oval. Who will take the final checkered flag on the old worn out surface? Tune in to find out. Coverage of the Pala Casino 400 will be Sunday, February 26 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Written by Peter Stratta

Be sure to follow us on Twitter

Be sure to follow the writer on Twitter

Photo Credit to Peter Stratta/TSJSports