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A17
Saturday 28 September 2019

Stenhouse

firing makes EAGLE’S BEST

for frenzied

NASCAR

free agency

By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — A
critical playoff race that
will end the championship
chances for four NASCAR
drivers has been overshad-
owed by a free-agent
market that took a wild
turn this week when Roush
Fenway Racing abruptly
dumped Ricky Stenhouse
Jr. Stenhouse was told
Wednesday the team was
not interested in exercising
the remaining two years on
his contract and would in-
stead put Chris Buescher, a
former Roush development
driver, in the flagship No.
17 Ford next season. Both
Stenhouse and JTG Daugh-
erty Racing, Buescher’s
current team, were blind-
sided as another name
was added to a crowded
group of drivers chasing a
handful of open seats for
2020. “It was unfortunate
for sure, definite tough
timing for myself and my
group to try to find another
option,” Stenhouse said Fri-
day. He appeared briefly
emotional reflecting on his
11-year relationship with
Jack Roush, which result-
ed in back-to-back Xfinity
Series championships and
a pair of Cup Series victo-
ries. But Stenhouse has not
made the playoffs the last
two seasons, is ranked 23rd
in the Cup standings and
has been outrun all year
by new teammate Ryan
Newman. “I’ve got to look Philadelphia Eagles running back Jordan Howard (24) and
back on the 11 years I had center Jason Kelce (62) celebrate a touchdown during the
with Jack, and winning first half of the team’s NFL football game against the Green
races and championships, Bay Packers on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019, in Green Bay, Wis.
and getting my first Cup
win and being competi- Associated Press
tive. Not as consistent as Page 20
we wanted,”

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