Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ready for racing at Darlington

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. had a FAN-Tastic day partnering with Darlington Raceway and visiting Columbia, S.C. Tuesday to help promote the upcoming Bojangles’ Southern 500 race weekend on May 10-11.

Stenhouse, who drives the No. 17 Zest Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, teamed up with Darlington Raceway president Chris Browning and South Carolina Education Lottery director Paula Harper Bethea to unveil the FAN-Tastic scratch ticket available now in convenience stores across South Carolina, which proudly features the track Too Tough To Tame and Bojangles’ Southern 500.

He also paid a visit to the University of South Carolina’s spring football practice, meeting head coach Steve Spurrier, athletic director Ray Tanner and a number of USC football players, including All-American Jadeveon Clowney and quarterback Dylan Thompson, who wears No. 17, just like Stenhouse’s No. 17 Ford Fusion.

“It was a great day,” Stenhouse said. “Helping Darlington Raceway and the South Carolina Education Lottery launch their scratch ticket and visiting South Carolina football practice was really cool. Our team is excited about returning to Darlington Raceway in a few weeks to race at one of the iconic tracks in NASCAR.”

A member of the media asked Stenhouse at football practice if he would consider having Clowney serve as his jackman for the races. Clowney, a defensive end who comes in at 6-foot-6, 275 pounds, is considered a potential Heisman Trophy candidate this fall. Stenhouse’s response?

“I think that would be really good! I’m not sure he would need the jack though! He’s an unbelievable player,” Stenhouse joked. “It’s great that we were able to bring our South Carolina track, Darlington Raceway, the football team and one of the greatest coaches in the sport, coach Spurrier, together at an event like this.”

Stenhouse, running for Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year honors in 2013, has three NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at Darlington with two top-10 finishes and one pole award. His first appearance in the Gen-6 Sprint Cup car will take place on Mother’s Day weekend, May 10-11, at the Lady in Black.

“Darlington is such a great race track. It’s definitely up there in my top five places that I would like to win at in my career,” Stenhouse said. “It’s such a unique place to race and we’re hoping to have a lot of success their soon.”