Photo Credit: Noel Lanier
CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 3, 2016) – Going into his fourth season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will have the same crew chief and team with him as they tackle the 2016 NSCS season. Stenhouse and crew chief Nick Sandler scored one top-five and three top-10 finishes in the 2015 NSCS season and are looking to add to these statistics in 2016.
“I’m really looking forward to this season,” Stenhouse said. “Over the off-season, we have hired some people that I believe will help our overall performance. Everyone has been working really hard to turn around our program and I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel and getting this season started.
“This is the first year that I will have the same crew chief on the box which I think is really important. Nick and I worked really well together last year and I think our team will continue to grow this year. Most successful crew chief and driver combinations have been together for many years, which I think is an integral part in being successful.”
The new aero package for the 2016 season is one that Stenhouse likes. The teams tested this package last year in Kentucky and Darlington where the 2013 NSCS Rookie of the Year had two solid performances.
“The new aero package feels similar to my dirt racing roots,” Stenhouse continues. “Last year we were able to pass and I thought the overall quality of racing was better. I think this package should help our organization as all of the Roush Fenway cars ran competitively last year at Kentucky and Darlington.”
While other drivers are enjoying downtime during the NASCAR offseason, Stenhouse went back to his roots to compete in the Junior Knepper 55 USAC Midget event at the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, Illinois and scored the win in the inaugural event.
The two-time XFINITY champion also competed in the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he finished 16th after winning the B-Main to advance into the premiere feature.
Roush Fenway Racing is the winningest team in NASCAR history, fielding multiple teams in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series competition with drivers Greg Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Trevor Bayne, Ryan Reed, Chris Buescher and Bubba Wallace. Now in its 28th season, Roush Fenway is a leader in driver development, having launched the careers for many of the top drivers in the sport. Off-track, Roush Fenway is a leader in NASCAR marketing solutions, pioneering motorsport’s first team-focused TV show and producing multiple award-winning digital and experiential marketing campaigns. Roush Fenway is co-owned by Jack Roush, the winningest team owner in NASCAR history and Fenway Sports Group, parent company of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox and English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C. Visit RoushFenway.com, circle on Google+, become a fan on Facebook and Instagram and follow on Twitter at @roushfenway.
