Stenhouse can step up sans Danica

Jenna Fryer, the motor sports reporter for The Associated Press, believes NASCAR Monster Energy Cup driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. can make a name for himself after breaking up with fellow driver Danica Patrick.

Stenhouse Jr., a two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion, won two Cup races in 2017 and made the playoffs for the first time in five seasons in NASCAR’s top circuit.

“When he first started dating [Danica] Patrick, she was already one of the most famous athletes in the world and had been married and divorced. Her life became his life — she got him to cut his mullet, dress a little better, explore big cities and take his fitness seriously, improvements that landed him two spots on American Ninja Warrior,” Fryer wrote.

“Stenhouse is now 30 and has a chance to show the world who he is as a racer and a person. His passions are dirt racing, the golf league comprised of NASCAR personalities and Ole Miss football. When he’s not racing, he probably wants to be racing.

“This is now Stenhouse’s time. He gets to not only reset, but also rebuild who he wants to be in the world of NASCAR and with his race team.

“Those are the kind of things Stenhouse is likely going to focus on in the buildup to next month’s season-opening Daytona 500. He won at Daytona in July, so there’s no reason to think he won’t be a contender in the 500, and a victory there would be the biggest moment of his career.

“What Stenhouse has ahead of him is now what’s important. He alone gets to dictate what happens next.”