In only his sixth USAC Silver Crown Series presented by K&N Engineering race, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. gave Carl Edwards/R. E. Technologies its first career series victory Saturday in the “Copper on Dirt†at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, Ariz. in front of a capacity crowd.
Stenhouse, who started seventh in the No. 199 Ford/Red Line Oil J&J/Ford, moved into the Top 5 shortly after the green flag flew and led twice for nine laps, including the final eight to win the series opener and first away from Phoenix International Raceway since 2000.
“This is awesome, and it’s great to give this team this victory, †said Stenhouse, who hails from Olive Branch, Miss. “Without my sponsors and team, I couldn’t have done this. â€
Stenhouse trailed Shane Cottle for much of the second half of the race. He stole second from Shane Hollingsworth on Lap 32, then drove around Cottle following a late race caution on Lap 42, and was never challenged thereafter.
Cottle, Paul White, defending series champion Bud Kaeding and A. J. Fike rounded out the Top 5 in the 50-lap race.
Mat Neely was not seriously injured in the race’s only flip, which occurred in Turn 1 on Lap 26 and brought out the race’s only red flag. Thirteen of the 20 starters finished the race on the lead lap.
The series makes its way next on March 23 to Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida for the “Homestead-Miami 100. â€
1. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 60
2. Shane Cottle 60
3. Paul White 54
4. Bud Kaeding 51
5. A. J. Fike 48
6. Tracy Hines 45
7. Aaron Pierce 42
8. Brian Tyler 39
9. Cory Kruseman 36
10. Jerry Coons Jr. 33
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