Stenhouse gets 1st career Cup win on last lap
TALLADEGA, Ala. — It has been a long journey for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to make his way to victory lane.
When he finally got there, in his 158th career NASCAR Cup start, his team owner and famous girlfriend were waiting. His father? Well, he was a little late to the party.
A last-lap pass of Kyle Busch in overtime Sunday got Stenhouse the win at Talladega, which was the first for resurgent Roush Fenway Racing since 2014. Danica Patrick, who had wrecked out of the race, was in street clothes and able to lean into the car to give her boyfriend a congratulatory kiss.
Ricky Stenhouse Sr. needed a police escort. The elder Stenhouse tried to climb a fence along the Talladega backstretch and cross the track to find his way to the celebration. Security picked him up and questioned him. Finally vetted, he was driven to victory lane to meet his son.
“My dad has done so much for me in my career,” Stenhouse said. “Everything that I know about racing I learned from him, and I’m glad that he was able to be here in Victory Lane.”
A two-time champion in the Xfinity Series, Stenhouse has not transferred that success to the next level. Prior to this year, he had just seven top-five finishes and led only 44 career laps.
Now he’s in the All-Star race this month, and has earned a spot in NASCAR’s playoffs.