Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is the latest NASCAR driver to take part in the prestigious Chili Bowl 2024 Nationals. He aims to get back in the Chili Bowl after taking the last year off and he’ll compete in the Tulsa Expo Raceway on Friday’s preliminary night to book a place at the Championship finale on Saturday.
Figured we’d make a last minute trip to Tulsa tomorrow 😎 pic.twitter.com/5qPOFy7b1u
— Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (@StenhouseJr) January 11, 2024
The whole surprise event comes from the conversation Ricky Stenhouse had with fellow NASCAR driver Kyle Larson. Over text, Kyle advised Ricky to contact his team owner Keith Kunz, and that’s how the deal for Ricky fell into place. Ricky will now drive the Keith Kunz Motorsports Curb-Agajanian/NOS Energy No. 71R on Friday night.
🚨 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Making Chili Bowl Nationals Return With Keith Kunz Motorsports This Friday!
Find out more at https://t.co/lFIxYgjdzd pic.twitter.com/BWE5QQEuBg
— Chili Bowl Nationals (@cbnationals) January 10, 2024
Ricky Stenhouse calls Keith Kunz; Kyle Larson is key to his return
The deal was finalized over a phone call as Ricky Stenhouse says “I was texting with [Kyle] Larson, telling him, the same time you were trying to get your deal together, I was trying to get a deal together, and he said to call Keith [Kunz], which I’ve run for him one other time at the Chili Bowl, and I didn’t really perform the way I wanted to, so I wasn’t sure if he would let me back in one of his cars, but I shot him a text, and he said, let me get on that, so here we are,”
Keith Kunz's phone keeps ringing ☎️
Along with the late addition of two-time Chili Bowl champion Kyle Larson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will now compete for Keith Kunz Motorsports during Friday's prelim. pic.twitter.com/cuEdna5ooU
— SPEED SPORT (@SPEEDSPORT) January 10, 2024
Ricky also praised Keith over the class of his cars and how he is prepared for Friday as he says “Obviously, Keith has the best cars out there, and they show every night, so I’m looking forward to getting back in a Midget at the Expo to see what we can do.”
Stenhouse has been a constant feature at the Chili Bowl over the years. He has competed 16 times in the last 2 decades and has been pretty great in the dirt race scene. He has made it to the Championship round 8 times, has 3 top-ten finishes and his best finish was 7th in 2021.
The defending Daytona 500 champion, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will look to make his mark on Friday as he targets his 9th Championship feature in his 17th time at the grand event.
Read more: USAC Driver Joins Kyle Larson As Another Surprise Entry to the 2024 Chili Bowl
