Richard Lynn Stenhouse Jr. Bio
Richard Lynn Stenhouse Jr. (born October 2, 1987) is an American professional stock car racing driver competing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series. He drives the No. 47 Chevrolet ZL1 for Hyak Motorsports and is notable for winning the 2023 Daytona 500. Stenhouse was the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year and secured back-to-back Nationwide Series championships in 2011 and 2012. He also earned the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year award.
Early Life and Background
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Stenhouse was raised in Olive Branch, Mississippi. He is the son of Ricky Stenhouse Sr. and Lisa Stenhouse. Stenhouse began kart racing at age six, achieving 47 wins and ninety podium finishes before transitioning to sprint car racing in 2003. His early racing career included competing in 360 cubic inch winged sprint cars, where he earned the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Driver Poll and Dirt Winged Sprint Car Rookie of the Year honors in 2003.
Stenhouse advanced to the United States Auto Club (USAC) sprint car series in 2004 and won dual Rookie of the Year awards in the USAC sprint car and midget series in 2007. He also won prestigious events such as the Knoxville Midget Nationals and the 4-Crown Nationals Midget in 2007. These formative years established his reputation in dirt and sprint car racing before moving into stock cars.
Path to NASCAR
In 2008, Stenhouse began his stock car racing career in the ARCA Racing Series with Roush Fenway Racing. He won his first ARCA race at Kentucky Speedway in only his sixth start and finished fourth in the standings as a rookie. His transition to NASCAR began in 2009 with a partial Nationwide Series schedule, where he earned his first top-ten finish at Kentucky Speedway and showed promise with a fifth-place finish in Milwaukee.
Stenhouse’s breakthrough came in 2010 when, after a slow start, he improved significantly under crew chief Mike Kelley. He earned seven top-ten finishes and won the Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year award. His consistent performance led to his first Nationwide Series win in 2011 at Iowa Speedway, followed by a championship that year and another in 2012. These achievements paved the way for his full-time move to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2013.
Richard Lynn Stenhouse Jr. Career
Early Career (2008–2010)
Stenhouse’s early career was marked by rapid progression through the ranks. After success in sprint cars and midgets, he entered the ARCA Racing Series in 2008, winning two races and finishing fourth in the standings as a rookie. In 2009, he competed part-time in the Nationwide Series, gaining valuable experience and achieving top-ten finishes.
In 2010, despite a challenging start with multiple crashes, Stenhouse rebounded with the guidance of crew chief Mike Kelley. He secured seven top-ten finishes and won the Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year award, signaling his readiness for higher competition levels.
NASCAR Nationwide Series Breakthrough (2011–2012)
Stenhouse’s Nationwide Series career peaked with back-to-back championships in 2011 and 2012. His first win came at Iowa Speedway in 2011, where he held off strong competitors to claim victory. That season, he recorded sixteen top-five finishes and clinched the championship by a 45-point margin over Elliott Sadler.
In 2012, Stenhouse continued his dominance with multiple wins at tracks including Las Vegas, Texas, Iowa, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Kansas. He again edged out Sadler to secure his second consecutive Nationwide Series title. His success in this series established him as a top talent ready for the Sprint Cup level.
Roush Fenway Racing Era (2013–2019)
Stenhouse joined Roush Fenway Racing full-time in the Sprint Cup Series in 2013, driving the No. 17 Ford Fusion. He earned the Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year award, highlighted by a pole position at Atlanta Motor Speedway and a third-place finish at Talladega. Despite a challenging 2014 season with few highlights, he showed resilience and improvement in subsequent years.
In 2017, Stenhouse achieved his first two Sprint Cup Series wins at Talladega and Daytona, ending a long winless streak for Roush Fenway Racing. He made the playoffs that year but was eliminated in the second round. His tenure with Roush ended in 2019 after a contract extension was followed by a team decision to replace him with Chris Buescher.
JTG Daugherty Racing Era (2020–Present)
In 2020, Stenhouse joined JTG Daugherty Racing, driving the No. 47 Chevrolet. He started strong by winning the pole for the Daytona 500 and narrowly missed victory at the GEICO 500. Throughout the season, he recorded multiple top-five and top-ten finishes. In 2023, Stenhouse won the prestigious Daytona 500, marking a career milestone and returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Despite some challenges in 2024, including a notable on-track incident leading to a post-race altercation and fines, Stenhouse secured a win at Talladega by a margin of .006 seconds. His 2025 season began with consistent top-20 finishes, though he ultimately missed the playoffs and finished 30th in the standings.
Driving Style and Strengths
Stenhouse is known for his strong performance on superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega, where his strategic racing and drafting skills shine. He has demonstrated resilience and adaptability, often recovering from setbacks during races. His partnership with crew chief Mike Kelley has been a key factor in his competitive form.
Notable Races and Milestones
Stenhouse’s signature victories include the 2023 Daytona 500 and multiple wins at Talladega Superspeedway. His first Cup Series win in 2017 ended a significant drought for his former team, Roush Fenway Racing. He is among a select group of drivers to have won in NASCAR’s top series as well as in USAC Silver Crown, National Sprint Car, and National Midget series.
Richard Lynn Stenhouse Jr. Career Wins
Throughout his career, Stenhouse has accumulated notable wins across various racing series. He won the NASCAR Nationwide Series championships in 2011 and 2012, the 2023 Daytona 500, and multiple prestigious sprint car and midget races. His victories highlight his versatility and skill across different racing disciplines.
NASCAR Nationwide Series Highlights
Stenhouse secured his first Nationwide Series win in 2011 at Iowa Speedway and followed with several wins in 2012, including races at Las Vegas, Texas, and Atlanta. He clinched the series championship in both years, showcasing consistent top-tier performance and racecraft.
Other Wins & Performances
Outside NASCAR, Stenhouse has excelled in sprint car and midget racing, winning events such as the Knoxville Midget Nationals and the 4-Crown Nationals Midget in 2007. He also won the Junior Knepper 55 in 2015. His success in these series complements his stock car achievements and underscores his broad racing talent.
Richard Lynn Stenhouse Jr. Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Stenhouse comes from a racing family, with his father Ricky Stenhouse Sr. involved in motorsports. Growing up in Mississippi, he was the first Mississippian driver to attempt a full-time NASCAR schedule since 1997, reflecting a strong regional racing heritage.
Personal Life
Stenhouse is married to Madyson Goodfleisch, with whom he shares a son named Stetson Steele Stenhouse. The couple married in October 2022. He is a devout Baptist and a fan of classic country music. Stenhouse was previously in a relationship with fellow racer Danica Patrick from 2012 to 2017. He resides in Olive Branch, Mississippi, and is known for his support of the Ole Miss Rebels football team.
2025 Season Performance
Stenhouse began the 2025 NASCAR season with an 18th-place finish at the Daytona 500 and showed promise with ten top-20 finishes in the first 15 races. Despite this strong start, he struggled in the latter half of the regular season, managing only three top-ten finishes and ultimately missing the playoffs. He concluded the season 30th in the final standings, reflecting a challenging year for the driver and his team.
