Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 2017 Season Recap

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the No. 17 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, finished 13th in the 2017 Monster Energy Series standings. Here are the highlights from his fifth full year at NASCAR's top level -- his best yet.

Four top-10 finishes in the 2017 season's first nine races gave us all an inkling that this might be a fantastic season for Stenhouse. But the pole at Talladega -- just the second of his career -- for the GEICO 500 really got everyone's attention.

Stenhouse converted the pole position into a trip to Victory Lane at Talladega. Although he only led the first 13 laps and the last one, it was enough for Stenhouse's first Monster Energy Series victory.

Stenhouse added his personality and expertise to the Fox Sports analysis during the NASCAR XFINITY Series Pocono Green 250 in June as drivers took over the race's broadcast. Stenhouse served as a pit road reporter, as did Ryan Blaney and Erik Jones.

Stenhouse claimed his second career Cup Series victory at the circuit's other superspeedway, Daytona. This time his race-winning pass came in overtime, surging past David Ragan for the win.

Stenhouse honored Darrell Waltrip with his 2017 Southern 500 scheme for Darlington's throwback weekend.

On the strength of two superspeedway wins, Stenhouse joined the Monster Energy Series Playoffs for the first time in his career.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finished the season 13th in the standings and ended the season with three top-12 finishes in his last four races following his Round of 12 elimination.