BRISTOL, Tenn: JTG-Daugherty Racing’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr. attempt to score his third career NASCAR Cup Series victory ended not even 30 laps in Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.
Stenhouse was battling Jimmie Johnson for a position inside the top-20 on Lap 29, when Johnson came down while attempting to dodge the slower lapped car of Joey Gase in the top lane and the contact from Johnson sent Stenhouse’s No. 47 Kroger Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE sliding down the backstretch and making hard contact with the backstretch wall.
Stenhouse was able to drive away from the scene of the accident but stopped his car on pit road before going into the garage – dropping fluid along the way.
Johnson suffered a major tire rub because of the contact but his No. 48 Ally Chevrolet team made repairs under the competition caution two laps later.
Once considered one of his best race tracks, the 0.533-mile track simply known as “Thunder Valley” has been a monster for Stenhouse over the last five races where he has finished 24th or worse.
In May, Stenhouse finished 34th after being involved in a crash late in the race.
On Saturday night, he was credited for last place in 40th.
Through 29 races in 2020, Stenhouse, 32, has finished last in three races at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in May, Kansas Speedway in July and the summer race at Bristol.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
