Ricky Stenhouse Jr. celebrates son‘s birthday as he and his wife, Madyson, marked their son Stetson Steele’s first birthday with touching social media dedications and cherished family photos from their North Carolina ranch. Stetson, born on July 4, shares his birthday with America’s Independence Day, making the celebration especially meaningful for the Stenhouse family.
Madyson Stenhouse posted a heartfelt message on Instagram, highlighting the joys of motherhood and reflecting on how quickly her son is growing up. She included a sentimental quote about the fleeting nature of childhood and shared a collection of family moments captured at Slide Job Ranch. The Stenhouses, who married nearly two years before Stetson’s birth during a Charleston, South Carolina ceremony attended by NASCAR figures like Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin, have actively shared their parenting journey with fans.
“Happy 1st birthday, Stetson!!! ❤️👶🏼💙🎂🇺🇸🎉 We love you so much. We are so blessed to be your parents! Becoming your mom has brought me more joy and laughter and love than I could have ever imagined. The old saying is so true – ‘The days are long, but the years are short’ 😭😭😭,” she said. —Madyson Stenhouse, Mother
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., the NASCAR star, also commemorated his son’s birthday by admitting how much joy fatherhood has brought to his life. Stenhouse, who is known for his achievements on superspeedway tracks, playfully mentioned having a “new ranch hand” in their growing family.
“Happy 1st birthday, little buddy!!! We love you!!! Being your dad has been the best thing ever!! Mom and I love you so much!! We have a new ranch hand,” the NASCAR driver wrote. —Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Dad
With their son’s birthday coming just before an important race weekend, the family’s celebration was all the more special. This week, Stenhouse Jr. heads to Chicago for a NASCAR street race, colliding with Erik Jones in the second round of NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge after a victory over Christopher Bell at EchoPark Speedway.
Stetson’s First NASCAR Track Experience at Daytona
Last August, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. brought Stetson Steele to Daytona International Speedway to experience his inaugural NASCAR race. Stenhouse, originally from Mississippi, piloted the #47 Chevrolet Camaro for JTG Daugherty Racing—now Hyak Motorsports—during this memorable family event. Stenhouse has built his reputation with four career wins at superspeedway venues such as Daytona and Talladega.
Cherishing the moment, the driver shared glimpses of their Daytona experience on Instagram and affectionately commented:
“Stetson’s first race had to be Daytona right?” —Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Dad
The event at Daytona proved dramatic, as Stenhouse was swept into a multi-car accident midway through the contest, which saw Michael McDowell’s vehicle hit the wall. Harrison Burton managed to escape the wreck and later claimed victory over Kyle Busch.
While the Daytona event ended early for Stenhouse, he found redemption later in the year, securing a win at a Talladega playoff race—his second career victory there and adding to two earlier wins at Daytona, including his notable Daytona 500 triumph in 2023.
Season Outlook and Recent Performances
This season, success at Daytona and Talladega has been elusive for Stenhouse Jr., who hasn’t cracked the top 10 at either venue so far. However, his sixth-place finish at the Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway demonstrates his continued strength on drafting-style tracks. With one top-five and three top-10 finishes over 18 races, Stenhouse currently sits 21st in the standings, maintaining a hopeful chance at reaching the playoffs on points.
Stenhouse has been aiming to return to postseason contention after his 2023 elimination following the Round of 16. His fans are eager to see if family celebrations and on-track momentum will help him reclaim a playoff spot as the season progresses.
The Stenhouse family’s joyful celebration of Stetson’s first birthday not only reflects the warmth in their private life at Slide Job Ranch in North Carolina but also coincides with significant professional milestones as Ricky Stenhouse Jr. looks to make headlines on and off the racetrack in the coming months.
