Photo – RFR Twitter page
It’s safe to say, the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season has been a bit of a disappointment for Roush-Fenway Racing. Going into the Quicker State 400 at Kentucky on Saturday night, Roush Fenway driver point standings stood at 19th (Greg Biffle), 27th (Trevor Bayne), and 28th (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.). Up to this point, the three drivers together were at two top-fives and five top-tens. Not the usual, 17 races into the season for a team that has taken home Sprint Cup Series championships in the past.
The team started to show some life Saturday night.
Although Saturday night’s race at Kentucky was not a complete turnaround for the organization, there were signs of improvement exhibited by each Roush Fenway Racing team. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finishing a team high 11th-place, had nothing but positive things to say after the race on twitter,
“Solid rebound for our Fifth Third team. Everyone at RFR (Roush Fenway Racing) is working really hard and making small gains. Still lots more to go.”
What really ignited the spark for spectators was the showing from his teammate Trevor Bayne who finished in 13th-place. Although that would be considered a major improvement for Bayne’s season overall, it was his ability to race in the top-ten and be competitive that was an eye opener. Bayne went to social media to make the following comments,
“Had a blast sliding around tonight! Great job by our team on all fronts. Adjustments and pit stops were on point!”
Team veteran Greg Biffle went on to finish in 16th-place.
What was special about Roush Fenway Racing’s night was not only the ability to pull out some respectable finishes but the ability to improve on their cars throughout the race.
With just under 100 laps to go, lap 172, Stenhouse Jr. climbed to a 28th-place spot after restarting in 35th-place and ultimately finishing in 11th-place. The teams’ ability to improve on the race car was the missing piece at Roush Fenway Racing this season, and hopefully the amount of confidence gained tonight will go into play for the rest of the 2015 Sprint Cup Season.
Bayne’s team attacked the race from a different angle.
Bayne was able to keep his car competitively in the top-20 throughout the course of the race. That’s been a struggle for the team this season, but it was different at Kentucky. NBC Commentator, Jeff Burton, noted Bayne’s ability to race former Sprint Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth for position with about 100 laps to go.
Moving into the middle part of the race, Biffle, a former Sprint Cup Series runner-up himself, was also able to keep his car competitive like Bayne. Running in 25th-place at the time of the NASCAR implemented competition caution at lap 30, Biffle’s No. 16 team was able to make adjustments. tremendously improving the handling of the car for Biffle.
Although overall it’s been a disappointing 2015 season, Saturday night’s Quicker State 400 was a step in the right direction for Roush Fenway Racing. Confidence is sometimes the key to driver and team success and with Saturday night’s progress, it’s safe to infer that Roush Fenway Racing will heighten its expectations for the rest of the 2015 season.