Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. held off Carl Edwards to win Sunday's Iowa John Deere Dealers 250 at Iowa Speedway. It is the 23-year-old driver’s first NASCAR Nationwide Series victory in 51 starts.

Stenhouse, Jr., who traded the lead with Edwards eight times over the final 85 laps, moved out front for good on lap 233 of the 250-lap event and held a 0.435 second advantage at the finish line.

“To be that first one, it feels good,” said Stenhouse, Jr. “Since we got that first one out of the way, hopefully, the next two will be a little bit easier, but this series is tough.”

Brad Keselowsi, the only other Sprint Cup driver in the field, finished third with Reed Sorenson and Elliott Sadler rounding out the top-five.

Kenny Wallace, Michael McDowell, Justin Allgaier, James Buescher and Austin Dillon completed the top-10.

The 2011 Iowa John Deere Dealers 250 saw five cautios for 28 laps and featured 17 lead changes among a record seven drivers.

Elliott Sadler leads Reed Sorenson in the 2011 Nationwide point standings as the series heads to Charlotte.

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