NASCAR Winner Spotlight: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Wins at Talladega

May 7, 2017; Talladega, AL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (17) celebrates winning the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports /

The GEICO 500 at Talladega on Sunday was the stage for Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s first career win in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

It was a longer than expected wait for 29-year-old Ricky Stenhouse Jr., but the dream finally came true. In his 158th career start in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Stenhouse made his first trip to Victory Lane after collecting the checkered flag at Talladega on Sunday.

Stenhouse is in his fifth season as the full-time driver of the 17 Ford machine for Roush Fenway Racing. In 2013, the team chose a then 25-year-old Stenhouse to fill the seat vacated by Matt Kenseth. At the time, Stenhouse was coming off of back-to-back Xfinity Series championships which saw him in Victory Lane eight times between 2011 and 2012.

Leading up to this season, Stenhouse had shown glimpses of what could be, but he could never get over the hump and earn that all-important first win. Ten races into 2017, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is now a household name as he won on one of NASCAR’s biggest stages. And he might not be done there.

Stenhouse’s career high top 10’s in a season is six. Through ten races, the 17 has already logged five top 10 finishes. The team has shown they are putting together solid race cars and Stenhouse is starting to shape into a competitive driver.

The memorable weekend started with Stenhouse earning his second career Coors Light Pole on Saturday. He was able to post the fastest time in both rounds, edging out Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the top starting spot.

Wow what a special day for our team yesterday. Thank y'all for the messages we really appreciate it. Got the 1st one out of the way #17in17 pic.twitter.com/E7Hh6C6eeY
— Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (@StenhouseJr) May 8, 2017

On Sunday, Stenhouse led the first 13 laps of the race before surrendering the lead. The 17 was able to hang on and collect stage points in the first stage. He wouldn’t lead again until the final lap of the day when he passed Kyle Busch on his way to the finish line.

The win moved Stenhouse to 12th in the championship standings. It also makes him the eighth race winner of the 2017 season. Going forward, the 17 team will look to continue to improve their performance and hopefully contend for more wins and put themselves in position to make a playoff run.

NASCAR heads to Kansas to race under the lights on Saturday night. Stenhouse has never finished inside the top 10 there, but will look to change his fortune at the track and build on his huge win at Talladega.

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