Stenhouse nets best qualifying effort of 2018

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s third-place qualifying effort Friday at ISM Raceway netted the Roush Fenway Racing driver his highest start in a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race this year.

Stenhouse Jr. posted the third-fastest time in the third round of qualifying, a 25.898 second lap time (139.007 mph).

The third-place start is Stenhouse’s highest since winning the pole at Talladega Superspeedway in May 2017 and his first top-10 start since Daytona in July.

Stenhouse, through 34 races this year, has earned three top-five finishes and five top-10 finishes with a best finish of third at Talladega last month. He ranks 18th in driver’s standings with two races left in the season.

The Can-Am 500 will be televised live Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.