Stenhouse has a big day at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Junior went to victory lane at a restrictor-plate race again.

Just like last time, it was Ricky Stenhouse Jr. celebrating after the checkered flag.

Stenhouse raced to his second victory of the season — second consecutive on a restrictor-plate track — Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway. Both events were billed as showcases for retiring driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Stenhouse stole both shows.

Stenhouse picked up his first career NASCAR Cup Series win in May at Talladega. Just like last time, girlfriend Danica Patrick was there to greet him in victory lane — she had wrecked out shortly before and was the first person at his car window when he pulled in to celebrate.

“It validates what we did in Talladega,” Stenhouse said.

He earned this one for Roush Fenway Racing in a two-lap overtime sprint when leader David Ragan tried to block the field and lost momentum. Stenhouse squirted by and held on for the victory. He did it in a new car, too, because he wasn’t giving back the Ford he drove at Talladega to his first career Cup victory.

“I kept my Talladega car and told them to build a new one,” he said. “I have been coming here since 2008. I actually came in 2006 one time with Bobby Hamilton Jr. and it is cool to put it in victory lane and get our second win this year.”

Clint Bowyer was second for the second consecutive week.

“This bridesmaid deal sucks. I want to win. We’re in this business to win,” said Bowyer. “But second is better than third.”

Bowyer joined Stenhouse to give Ford Performance a 1-2 finish for the manufacturer and engine builder Doug Yates. Ford also won all three plate races this season.

Earnhardt Jr. finished 32nd after wrecking.

XFINITY: Also at Daytona on Saturday, William Byron got his second win of the season, and this time he got to do it in front of his bosses.

Byron won his second consecutive Xfinity Series by leading a 1-2 finish for JR Motorsports. Byron raced to his first career Xfinity victory last weekend at Iowa, but team owners Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rick Hendrick weren’t at the track to see him.

This time, Hendrick was the first person to the window of his car in victory lane. The 19-year-old became the youngest series winner at Daytona. Elliott Sadler finished second.

IMSA: Brazilian driver Pipo Derani earned the pole for the six-hour race at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, the first for Nissan’s Daytona Prototype international car in the IMSA SportsCar Championship.