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NASCAR Cup Bristol II

Stenhouse drives Bryan Clauson tribute car to career-best finish

You could see the disappointment in Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s face as he was being interviewed immediately following Sunday’s rain-delayed Sprint Cup race at Bristol, Tenn.

Bryan Clauson's name on the car of Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing Ford
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing Ford
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing Ford
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing Ford
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing Ford, Greg Biffle, Roush Fenway Racing Ford
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing Ford
Tribute helmet to Bryan Clauson of Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
A sticker remembering Bryan Clauson

Yes, he finished second again – and again at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway – but it wasn’t the lack of his first Cup victory that seemed to bother him most.

It was a missed chance to honor his fallen friend Bryan Clauson by “parking” the tribute helmet and paint scheme Stenhouse used this weekend in Victory Lane in his honor.

Clauson died Aug. 7 from injuries sustained in the Belleville (Kan.) Midget Nationals sprint car race the night before. He was 27.

“We really wanted to get this Bryan Clauson tribute car in Victory Lane. It just wasn’t meant to be today. I thought we were matching (Kevin Harvick) there lap for lap, but he got away from us and we had to restart sixth there on that last restart, but it was an honor to drive this car.  

“It's definitely been tough, but I think going to Knoxville (Iowa) and being with his family, being with his fiancé and being with friends that we all had a great time together. You know, talking about it, talking through things and talking about all the good things that Bryan did and his organ donation really helped a lot of us really feel comforted with what he was still doing after the fact.”

Stenhouse’s No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford feature the same Fastenal paint scheme this weekend as Clauson raced during the 2008 season in what is now known as the Xfinity Series. Clauson was a development driver for Chip Ganassi Racing at the time.

Stenhouse and Kyle Larson both wore tribute helmets in Clauson’s honor this weekend at Bristol.

“It was a tough weekend from an emotional side and out here driving this race car and getting it fast, but thanks to all the hard work from my guys we were able to salvage a really good finish,” he said.

Clauson’s fiancé, Lauren Stewart, was on hand for the start of the race on Saturday night but returned home on Sunday. She posted the following Tweet Sunday evening after the race: 

 

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