Daytona 500 Winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr Sad After Tony Stewart Ignores His Bold Stunt

The Daytona 500 is the ultimate goal for any NASCAR driver. It’s the Super Bowl of stock car racing, the one race that every driver dreams of winning. And when you do win it, you become a legend in the sport.

That’s exactly what happened to Ricky Stenhouse Jr on February 19, 2023. He won the Daytona 500, though not many would say that he did it in style. But there’s just one problem. Tony Stewart, his former teammate and mentor didn’t acknowledge his epic fence-climbing celebration.

Bob Pockrass tweeted a video of Stenhouse talking about his fence-climbing ability and how he hadn’t heard any critique from Tony Stewart.

In the video, Stenhouse said, “It was super cool to have all the team guys out there…they were, you know, we were all gonna go climb the fence, I turned around, they were gone. So, I went ahead and climbed the fence by myself but … did some extra pull-ups up there for … for a good measure.”

What makes fence climbing special?

Stenhouse’s fence-climbing stunt was not only impressive, but it was also a nod to Tony Stewart‘s signature celebration.

Stewart’s trademark was climbing the fence after his victories, and he did it so often that he became known for it. When Stenhouse won the Daytona 500 and climbed the fence, it was a clear tribute to Stewart.

But Stewart didn’t acknowledge it, and that has left Stenhouse feeling bad. In the video, Stenhouse said, “I did not… I mean I talked to him afterward. He didn’t say anything about the fence climbing but … somebody asked about that … and the media center and yeah … I have to see if he can do any pull-ups up there.”

Stewart and Stenhouse have a long history together. They were teammates at Stewart-Haas Racing from 2013 to 2016, and Stewart has been a mentor to Stenhouse throughout his career. So, it’s understandable why Stenhouse would want Stewart to acknowledge his fence-climbing celebration.

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The fact that Stenhouse won the Daytona 500 makes this situation even more interesting. The race is the most prestigious in NASCAR, and winning it is a huge accomplishment. Stenhouse’s fence-climbing celebration was a way for him to celebrate that accomplishment, and it was also a way for him to pay tribute to his former teammate and mentor.

In the end, it’s unclear why Stewart didn’t acknowledge Stenhouse’s celebration. Perhaps he was busy with other things, or maybe he didn’t see it. But one thing is for sure, Stenhouse won’t forget this moment. It was a bold and daring stunt that will be remembered for years to come, and it’s a shame that Stewart didn’t give him the recognition he would have wanted.

Read More: “He Executed Really Well” – Denny Hamlin Argues Why Ricky Stenhouse Jr’s Daytona 500 Win Wasn’t Actually a Fluke