When your son wins his first race at NASCAR’s highest level, it’s easy to get swept into the moment and do something you might come to regret. Such was the case for Ricky Stenhouse Sr., whose son won Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s father detained by security after trying to hop fence to celebrate Talladega win
Stenhouse Sr. had watched the race from atop an RV stationed outside the track along the backstretch. But after seeing Ricky Stenhouse Jr. take the checkered flag, the elder Stenhouse got caught up in the euphoria, and rushed to get to victory lane to celebrate by first trying to hop a backstretch fence. When that failed, the man in his 50s -- Stenhouse Jr. didn’t know his dad’s exact age, only that he was born in 1961 -- then attempted to run through an access tunnel to the infield, which doesn’t allow foot traffic.
He didn’t get far, however. Police quickly apprehended Stenhouse Sr. and placed him in the back of a squad car.
After confirming the man’s identity and that he was in fact the father of the driver who had just won the Geico 500, Ricky Stenhouse Sr. not only was released from custody, he got a police escort to victory lane.
“My dad has done so much for me in my career,” Stenhouse Jr. said. “Everything that I’ve learned is from him. … Man, he sacrificed a lot for me and my career. Everything that I know about racing I learned from him, and I’m glad that he was able to be here in victory lane.”
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