Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 sports
Tuesday 23 January 2018
Column: Stenhouse can make a name for himself post-Patrick

By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) —
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is a two-
time Xfinity Series cham-
pion who is coming off the
best season of his NASCAR
career. He won his first two
Cup races last year and
made the playoffs for the
first time in five seasons of
racing in NASCAR’s big
leagues.
Building on that momen-
tum will be his goal this
year, and likely what he
focuses on when he faces
reporters during NASCAR’s
annual preseason media
tour. What Stenhouse prob-
ably won’t talk about is his
breakup with Danica Pat-
rick, though he will certainly
be asked.
Why should anyone ask
Stenhouse about his ex-girl-
friend? The circumstances
are unique and unconven-
tional. He and Patrick were
professional athletes from
the same sport who com-
peted against each other
weekly while living together
as a couple both at home
and at the race track. In this July 1, 2017, file photo, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup auto race at Daytona
They dated for five years, International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Fla.
the entire time Stenhouse Associated Press
has raced in the Cup Series, likely won’t spill any tea for the couple. She was the Ford at those tracks, but he explore big cities and take
and being her boyfriend about their late November one who announced they still showed he has the abil- his fitness seriously, improve-
became part of his iden- breakup. Stenhouse very were dating, telling The As- ity to win. ments that landed him two
tity. So, yes, there is interest rarely talked about the re- sociated Press in early 2013, Stenhouse had done very spots on “American Ninja
in hearing from Stenhouse lationship publicly, and it “I have a boyfriend, his little to shine on the race Warrior.”
about the split. was Patrick and her “Dan- name is Richard.” track prior to last season, Stenhouse is now 30 and
However, Stenhouse owes ica Machine” marketing She tearfully thanked Sten- but much of his Cup ca- has a chance to show the
no one any answers, and team that drove the bus house, who watched from reer has been spent with world who he is as a racer
the back of the room, as a rebuilding Roush Fenway and a person. His passions
she announced she’ll re- Racing team. His numbers are dirt racing, the golf
tire from racing after two from last season are all ca- league comprised of NAS-
events this year last No- reer bests, and while they CAR personalities and Ole
vember at Homestead-Mi- aren’t spectacular statis- Miss football. When he’s
ami Speedway. About two tics, he still showed that RFR not racing, he probably
weeks later, the couple and the No. 17 team are wants to be racing.
had split. Patrick said she making progress. This is now Stenhouse’s
is now dating Green Bay The next steps will require time. He gets to not only re-
Packers quarterback Aar- Stenhouse to be a lead- set, but also rebuild who he
on Rodgers and has been er at Roush, with his race wants to be in the world of
the most relevant racer the team and the organization. NASCAR and with his race
entire offseason through a Stenhouse has an opportu- team.
promotional blitz that has nity to become something Those are the kind of things
kept her in the headlines. much bigger than Patrick’s Stenhouse is likely going to
Stenhouse, meanwhile, has plus one. He was 25 when focus on in the buildup to
said nothing. It’s the right they began dating, didn’t next month’s season-open-
course of action. go to college and most of ing Daytona 500. He won at
Stenhouse started to flour- his learning was done in Daytona at July, so there’s
ish on the race track last race cars. no reason to think he won’t
season and, if he choos- When he first started dating be a contender in the 500,
es, can be an important Patrick, she was already and a victory there would
part of NASCAR’s future. one of the most famous be the biggest moment of
His victories at Talladega athletes in the world and his career.
and Daytona last year ab- had been married and di- What Stenhouse has ahead
solutely had a lot to do vorced. Her life became his of him is now what’s impor-
with the horsepower Doug life — she got him to cut his tant. He alone gets to dic-
Yates put in Stenhouse’s mullet, dress a little better, tate what happens next.q