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2015 Fantasy NASCAR Profile: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

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By @DFresh39

Ricky Stenhouse Jr Fantasy NASCAR

Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports

Taking a shot on Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in your fantasy NASCAR team was not beneficial last year. He was not alone in having a difficult season among the three-team stable of Roush Fenway Racing. Stenhouse Jr. and the No. 17 Ford have not lived up to the expectations that came after back-to-back NASCAR Nationwide Series Championships. Now entering his third year as a full-time driver in the Sprint Cup, Stenhouse Jr. needs to prove his worth to fantasy players and become more than Danica Patrick‘s boyfriend.

In 76 total races in NASCAR’s top level, Stenhouse Jr. has two top-fives and eight top-10s. He has yet to win a race. His average finish dropped four spots last year in his second year as a full-time driver. He finished 27th in points with his best result coming at Bristol where he finished second last March. Stenhouse Jr.’s average finish over the last 10 races of 2014 was 22nd.

He is a late entrant to the Sprint Unlimited competition, so Stenhouse Jr. will get some extra work in at the beginning of the season. He finished 15th in the event last year after starting third.

Stenhouse Jr. cannot afford the same type of season as the previous two and his career in NASCAR could be on the line. He knows that and has started studying at-track performance data for other Ford drivers. Stenhouse Jr. could use this data to drive the car differently and ask for more subtle adjustments. This means taking a 12th place finish rather than pushing it too hard and falling to the back of the pack.

Stenhouse Jr., along with teammates Trevor Bayne and Greg Biffle, had more say in the offseason personnel moves in the Roush Fenway camp this year. Stenhouse Jr. has been optimistic and thinks he can get his first win. If that comes it will likely be at a short track race. Bristol and other short tracks may be the only places to take a chance on Stenhouse Jr. in your fantasy lineup. He needs to show more consistency before he is even considered a viable fantasy option.

2015 Prediction: 0 wins, 6 Top-5s, 10 Top-10s

Douglas Smith is a soccer writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DFresh39, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

Related:

2015 Fantasy NASCAR Profile: Brian Vickers

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