Roush Fenway Racing’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will officially enjoy the sponsorship of Nationwide Insurance in 2014.
The 2013 NASCAR Rookie of the Year and back-to-back Nationwide Series champion (2011, 2012) is expected to drive the No. 17 Nationwide Insurance Ford Fusion in seven different races, including the Sprint Unlimited race Feb. 15 and the Daytona 500 on Feb. 23, the company said in a statement.
“Our partnership with Ricky was an easy decision, and race fans can expect to see more of him when we introduce our new season kickoff campaigns in a few weeks,” said Matt Jauchius, chief marketing officer for Nationwide Insurance. “Our company has been an active NASCAR sponsor for 15 years, but fielding our first car in ‘The Great American Race’ will make the 2014 season even more special for our members, agents and associates.”
Stenhouse Jr. will be reunited with former crew chief Mike Kelley for each of the seven races, with hopes that the collaboration will lead to even more success in the upcoming season.
“To be with Nationwide Insurance and reunited with my two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series championship crew chief, Mike Kelley, for seven races, will be pretty special for us,” Stenhouse said. “I am thrilled Nationwide is partnering with me this year and look forward to creating something magical together again.”
