Ricky Stenhouse Jr. spun out on the last turn, then was pushed across the finish line by Carl Edwards in a wild finish at the U.S. Cellular 250 on Friday night at Iowa Speedway.
Stenhouse, who was angered earlier in the race when Edwards brushed into him while passing for the lead, appeared to be heading to an easy victory when his rear end got loose and smoke started billowing from his No. 6 car. Edwards appeared to have an opening to pass for the win, but the smoke made it impossible for him to see, and he ended up ramming into Stenhouse’s car, pushing it sideways across the finish line as a sold-out crowd of 48,271 roared in disbelief. USA Today
Stenhouse appeared to be on his way to an easy win before his motor expired on the final lap.
“I was aggressive there at the end, and you got to do whatever you have to do to win,” Stenhouse said. “I wasn’t going to let [Edwards] slip by me. He kind of ran me up the racetrack there in turn four, and I wasn’t going to back down.”
There was no altercation between Stenhouse and Edwards after the race had concluded.
“We’ll take care of it at the shop, and we’ll work on it,” Edwards said. “I’ve got a fast teammate, and we really get along. He’s got a lot of enthusiasm, and it’s paying off. He’s doing a great job.”
Stenhouse earned his first win in NASCAR’s second-tier series in May at Iowa. Edwards also finished second in that race. MiamiHerald.com
Edwards led 109 of the race’s 250 laps. Stenhouse led 25.
Pole-sitter Elliott Sadler finished third, Josh Wise was fourth and Aric Almirola fifth. Rounding out the top 10 were Reed Sorenson, Kenny Wallace, Steve Wallace, Michael McDowell and David Mayhew, who was making his first Nationwide start.
Stenhouse, the Nationwide points leader, left Iowa with a 12-point lead on Sorenson. Sadler is third, 29 behind Stenhouse. NASCAR.com
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NASCAR Nationwide Series: U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway - Race Results
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