Stenhouse Jr. has longtime friend, mentor in Stewart (NASCAR.com)
January 29, 2010
Ricky Stenhouse and Tony Stewart share a witty banter that stems from their similar open-wheel backgrounds and love for dirt tracks.
Tony Stewart doesn't have any children but if he was to adopt someone it might be Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
You could say the two already have a fatherly relationship.
"Whenever I call him, he always answers the phone 'hello son,' " Stenhouse laughed. "He's always messing with me like that."
Both share a witty banter that stems from their similar open-wheel backgrounds and love for dirt tracks, however, the personal time and tutelage Stewart puts forth is very serious.
"Tony is like a father in the way that he has helped my racing career," Stenhouse said, a member of the Roush Fenway Racing stable set to campaign his first full-time Nationwide Series season this year in the No. 6 Citifinancial Ford.
The 21 year-old is a Ford driver being mentored by a Chevy driver and team owner who one day undoubtedly will compete against him in the Sprint Cup Series.
Is this a concern? Not in the slightest bit, their history goes back too far.
"Everyone at Roush says 'when are you going to race for Tony' but I plan on being here for a long time," Stenhouse said, signed to a multi-year contract in 2007. "I tell them me and Tony don't talk about that. Overall we sit and talk about what we used to race and have a good time talking about that. It's just good to know he is supportive of me."
The Mississippi native made a name for himself in 2007 here when he drove for Tony Stewart Racing in the USAC (United States Auto Club) National Sprint Car and USAC National Midget Series. Stenhouse 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.
When Stenhouse went ARCA racing the following season, Stewart was in his corner. "And on my pit box," Stenhouse said. "For the Talladega race he was giving me pointers but we ended up blowing a right-rear tire going down the straightaway."
Stenhouse was in a tight points battle for the championship with Scott Speed.
"We got the car back to garage and I was getting ready to do an interview," he said. "I was upset and Tony was talking to me. Then all of the sudden he takes off running."
Speed had a tire blow as well so the championship battle had gone from the track to the garage. "I get back to the car and Tony is under the car beating it with a hammer. So I started cutting stuff up too. We got back out there and made up some laps. It was great."
Another testament of Stewart's dedication was in Salem, Ind. that same 2008 season. The Cup driver flew from his Saturday night race in Phoenix, Ariz. to make Stenhouse's event in Salem on Sunday.
"He came to spot for me, but I was in a bad mood because I qualified 10th. I was with my guys in the lounge of the trailer and Tony came in and blew up at me. He yelled at me and told me I wasn't going to set the world on fire and win everything. And that it didn't matter where I qualified. It only mattered where I was at the end of the race," Stenhouse said. "My guys were like ugh…and left. Tony gives it to me when I need it. It's great, I appreciate it."
The learning will continue into this season, however Stewart and Stenhouse will surely compete in some of the same events; Charlotte and Daytona are possibilities.
"I can't wait. I'm going to learn so much just from driving behind Tony," he said.
Last season, Stenhouse made his Nationwide Series debut and split the ride with teammate Matt Kenseth. He made seven starts and posted one top-five and two top-10 finishes. He also won the pole is Iowa.
"We struggled to get in a rhythm but I know that will change with running the full season," he said.
There are ways to set yourself apart from the competition when you're a rookie; seat time, sponsorship dollars, crew chief, number of engineers, etc.
But few young drivers can bend the ear of a two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion like Stewart whenever they want—night or day.
"Without him it would be hard to be in the place I'm in," said Stenhouse. "Tony helped me stay in the seat when my dad and I were about out of money. He got my name out there and Jack [Roush] talked to him about me so I know he had a big part in getting me into a stock car."
Then perhaps when Stenhouse finds Victory Lane this season, Roush can send over a finder's fee to Stewart Haas Racing with a note that says to Tony from your "son."
