Tony Stewart played a huge role in developing Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s career. As a former racing legend, Stewart saw Stenhouse’s talent early after Stenhouse won in USAC sprint cars. Stewart then brought him into Tony Stewart Racing and gave him a shot in his No. 21 car.

Over time, that mentorship turned into a father-son kind of respect: when Stenhouse won the Daytona 500, Stewart famously told him he’d trade a Cup championship for that ring, showing just how much he believed in him. And now Stenhouse has recalled the favor of letting him in.

Stewart’s door was the key to everything

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. didn’t pull any punches when he recalled how much Tony Stewart shaped his path, “I bugged him for 2 or 3 years to drive his car and then finally I got two opportunities,” he said, explai

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