The Commercial Appeal

Stenhouse Jr. gets key to city in Olive Branch

- Gina Butkovich

There is now officially a Ricky Stenhouse Jr. day in Olive Branch, Mississipp­i.

On Monday, Olive Branch Mayor Ken Adams declared Feb. 19, 2023, the day Stenhouse won this year's Daytona 500, to be Ricky Stenhouse Jr. day. Stenhouse was also given a key to the city and a lane was named after him.

"This is an awesome win. This is the pinnacle of racing, it is the most prestigiou­s race on the NASCAR circuit and it's a race that all drivers covet to win," Adams said. "So congratula­tions on this super win. This is a legacy that will go down in the history books."

Stenhouse won the 2023 Daytona 500, his first Daytona win, in double overtime and under caution. The race went a dozen laps more than usual and was the longest Daytona 500 in history. The victory was Stenhouse's third career win in the Sprint Cup Series. His two other victories came in 2017 at the Geico 500 at Talladega and the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona.

The newly dubbed Stenhouse Lane, a curve in front of Olive Branch City Hall, was painted black and white like racing's checkered flag for Stenhouse's visit.

"It's always cool to come back home," Stenhouse said. "Seeing this checkered flag painted, y'all went all out for me. I really appreciate that. It's so cool to call Olive Branch, Mississipp­i, my home. Growing up here, obviously my parents still live here, a lot of my family, we drove over from the other side of the state line, they all live here now. So it was a great place to grow up, a place that I enjoyed playing sports, racing go-karts and working in the shop with my dad to help me get to where I am today."

In a Monday ceremony, more than 50 people came to watch Stenhouse receive the key to the city and to get his autograph. Tony Mccutchen, a longtime fan, came from Byhalia, Mississipp­i, to get a helmet signed. He plans on auctioning it through the Byhalia Lion's Club for charity.

"Ricky, you've been talked about in your hometown ever since you won Daytona. Several people said 'I went to school with him.' One person said 'I used to live right beside him.' Another neighbor said 'I remember all the times they pulled out on Friday afternoon and came back after midnight on Sunday night, Monday morning, to support this career that he was building,'" Adams said. "And, actually, if Madeline Stenhouse will overlook this, 799 ladies said they dated him in high school. And that number increased after he won the Daytona 500! Ricky, Olive Branch is proud of you and thankful that you and your parents continue to call Olive Branch home."

The NASCAR season is ongoing and Stenhouse is still racing. He thanked the crowd for being willing to meet on one of his few days off.

"To finally win an amazing race, the Daytona 500, to represent this city and everybody here," Stenhouse said. "It's crazy coming back home to see how much it's grown up. I feel like my racing career keeps growing and every time I come back the city is doing the same thing."

Gina Butkovich covers Desoto County, storytelli­ng and general news. She can be reached at 901/232-6714.

 ?? PHOTOS BY GINA BUTKOVICH/THE MEMPHIS COMMERCIAL APPEAL ?? Ricky Stenhouse Jr. cuts the ribbon for Stenhouse Lane along with Olive Branch Mayor Ken Adams and various aldermen.
PHOTOS BY GINA BUTKOVICH/THE MEMPHIS COMMERCIAL APPEAL Ricky Stenhouse Jr. cuts the ribbon for Stenhouse Lane along with Olive Branch Mayor Ken Adams and various aldermen.
 ?? ?? A lane in front of Olive Branch City Hall has been named Stenhouse Lane.
A lane in front of Olive Branch City Hall has been named Stenhouse Lane.

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