Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will drive a Ford Fusion sponsored by Nationwide Insurance in three races this season. Stenhouse won the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship the past two years.
“We’ve had a 15-year presence in NASCAR and this is the first time we’ve sponsored a car in any NASCAR series,” said Matt Jauchius, chief marketing officer for Nationwide Insurance. “We built a solid relationship with Roush Fenway and two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and Nationwide Insurance member, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and we’re eager to carry that momentum forward and enhance our existing integrated NASCAR marketing platform.”
Stenhouse will drive the No. 17 Nationwide Insurance Ford Fusion at Bristol (Aug. 24), Richmond (Sept. 7) and Talladega (Oct. 20). Nationwide will also sponsor Stenhouse for four races in 2014.
“I’ve really enjoyed working with Nationwide Insurance so much over the past three years as both their champion and as a Nationwide Insurance member,” said Stenhouse. “They feel like family and to be able to continue that relationship with our No. 17 team means so much to me because of who they are and all that they stand for. I’ve had Nationwide on my side for my entire NASCAR career, and I’m excited that they are going to continue being there for me.”
The 25-year-old Stenhouse is competing in his rookie season at the Cup level. In eight races this season he had managed six lead lap finishes with a best of 11th at Kansas.
