Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Birthdate: 10-2-87
Hometown: Olive Branch, MS
Residence: Cornelius, NC
Marital Status: Single

At just 20 years old Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has been racing for 14 years and is one of Roush Fenway Racing’s up-and-coming drivers. Stenhouse made a name for himself in 2007 when he drove for Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) in the USAC (United States Auto Club) National Sprint Car and USAC National Midget Series at events across the United States. Stenhouse left a mark in the history annals when he took home five Midget wins and two Sprint wins while on his way to becoming Rookie-of-the-Year in the USAC National Midget and Sprint Car Series, only the second driver to win both accolades in the same year. Now the standout from Olive Branch, Miss., is looking ahead to his first ARCA RE/MAX Series start for Roush Fenway Racing at Daytona in February 2008.

At the ripe age of six, Stenhouse began racing go-karts and by 15, he had earned 47 A-main Karting victories and more than 90 podium finishes. In 1998 he won the Indoor Thunder Go-Kart Nationals A-main, as well as the 1999 Tulsa (Okla.) Shootout A-main title. He moved into 360 Winged Sprint Cars in 2003 and won the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Driver Poll and Dirt Winged Sprint Car Rookie-of-the-Year. He was also named the Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park Rookie-of-the-Year that same year.

In 2004, Stenhouse made his first USAC National Sprint Car Series start at Memphis, qualifying fourth and finishing seventh in the feature event. He also went on to win an American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) A-main in West Memphis, Ark., and the Memphis Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park later that year. In 2005, Stenhouse earned a fourth-place finish in the Knoxville (Iowa) 360 Nationals in addition to winning four United Sprint Car Series (USCS) feature events.

The 2006 season served as Stenhouse’s breakout year. He was the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Driver Poll Wild Card title winner in both the 360 and 410 Winged Sprint Car divisions. Winning four USCS main events, Stenhouse expanded into the USAC ranks and several other racing divisions to help gain him valuable experience.

Stenhouse kicked off the 2007 season by winning two of three races at Manzanita Speedway in the Copper on Dirt event in February. Capturing both the USAC National Sprint Car and Silver Crown feature events, he proved he could successfully make the transition from winged sprint cars to non-winged machines. His performance at the legendary half-mile facility thrust him into the national spotlight. Stenhouse then got the call from TSR to drive his USAC National Sprint and Midget cars when Tracey Hines was injured in an off-track incident. In only his second start

with TSR, Stenhouse drove the No. 21 entry into victory lane during USAC National Midget Car Series competition at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind., on May 12, 2007.

“It was unbelievable. That’s the only way to really sum it up,” Stenhouse said. “To come away from our first USAC Midget event with a ‘W’ to our credit was the perfect way to start my time with TSR. I hope that we’re able to win several more events as the season progresses. My goal for the rest of the year is to learn as much as I can about non-winged sprint car, midget and Silver Crown Series racing.”

Stenhouse went on to gain the respect of some of USAC’s best drivers demonstrating week-in and week-out why he was considered one of the best at just 19 years of age. In 26 USAC National Midget starts, Stenhouse racked up five wins, 10 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes. In the USAC Sprint car, Stenhouse was equally as impressive garnering two wins, nine top-five and 16 top-10 finishes in 29 starts. Stenhouse also captured 2007 Rookie-of-the-Year honors in both the USAC Midget and Sprint car divisions.

In the summer of 2007 Stenhouse got the call from Jack Roush and Roush Fenway Racing inviting him to be a part of the NASCAR powerhouse. Stenhouse accepted the job and is looking forward to racing the full ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule in the No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford beginning in 2008.

“I’ve been waiting for this for a while,” said Stenhouse. “I’m really excited about this opportunity. Since I was six years old and starting to race this is what I’ve wanted to do. To be racing for Jack Roush, John Henry and a team like Roush Fenway Racing, it’s a dream come true.”

Roush is looking forward to the prospect of producing another one of NASCAR’s top drivers. "We're very excited to have Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. as part of our Roush Fenway Racing stable of drivers and as part of the Ford family,” said Roush. “Ricky has shown tremendous talent in the USAC series this year with seven wins and we feel he'll do a great job for us in the ARCA Series in 2008."

When he’s not racing, Stenhouse enjoys golf, racquetball and working out. Born in Memphis, Tenn., Stenhouse is an avid fan of country music.