Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is one of NASCAR's most exciting young up-and-comers because of his ragged-edge style of racing. That same all-out style that helped him win last year's Nationwide Series championship has probably cost him dearly in the Kansas Lottery 300 at the Kansas Speedway.
Stenhouse was battling with polesitter Joey Logano for fourth place when the two tangled and smacked the wall off turn four. TVideo replays seemed to indicate that it was a case of overdriving on Stenhouse's part that triggered the incident.
Both drivers made it to pit road without the caution flag coming out, but it flew shortly thereafter when Johanna Long blew a right front tire and slammed the wall. Long had run well all race before wrecking to draw the seventh caution in what has been a wreckfest.
Austin Dillon leads ahead of Paul Menard, Ryan Blaney, Kenny Wallace, and Michael Annett. Point leader Elliott Sadler runs seventh while Stenhouse is 22nd, two laps off the pace.