Top Dog: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
What can I say to describe the 2022 Coca-Cola 600? Chaotic, amazing, bizarre, jaw-dropping, wholly compelling and about any word associated with crazy would come the closest.
The longest race in the NASCAR Cup Series not only conformed to its moniker, but it took on a whole new meaning as one of the greatest Charlotte Motor Speedway races in recent history. It was also officially the longest, featuring 413 laps and 619.5 miles of competition.
A race that took five hours, 13 minutes to complete was still compelling from start to finish. Nearly the entire field was involved in either an accident or some type of pit road penalty. In fact, only one driver on the lead lap steered clear of both, and it just happened to be an underdog (more on that later).
But there was also another surprise amidst the chaos. A driver many know as today’s Jimmy Spencer, “Mr. Excitement,” survived to earn a seventh-place run. That would be Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Stenhouse has quietly been one of the most consistent drivers over the past month. However, the Coca-Cola 600 was a whole different ballgame. Stenhouse started from the rear of the field after the team made unapproved adjustments. As NASCAR and Charlotte recognized the military and fallen service members in memorable fashion, Stenhouse’s No. 47 carried the name of Colonel Gail Halvorsen.
The Olive Branch, Miss. native quickly found his way to the front, as he ended stage one in the seventh position.
That was a good stage for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ended in points despite him starting at the tail.
Would he have believed that before the race?
“No, not at all. Hope she continues to keep up with this track.”
— Aaron Bearden (@aaronbearden93) May 29, 2022
Stage two got a little trickier for Stenhouse, though. He was busted for speeding midway through, then had to avoid a massive pileup in turns 1 and 2 on a restart later on. However, the speed in his JTG Daugherty car was evident as Stenhouse…
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