Ricky Stenhouse, the reigning Nationwide Series rookie of the year and current points leader, says his future after this season is unclear because of sponsorship woes at Roush Fenway Racing. “I have no idea,” Stenhouse said Wednesday when asked what he’ll be driving in 2012. Stenhouse has been driving an unsponsored car in the Nationwide Series for much of this season, and still is unsponsored for the November race at Phoenix. He said his future depends in part on whether RFR can find sponsorship for the #17 Cup car of Matt Kenseth and possibly the #6 Cup car currently driven by David Ragan. “I know I’m going to be racing something,” Stenhouse said during a promotion for Friday’s Nationwide breast cancer awareness race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “I’m just not sure if it’s going to be another full-time Nationwide deal. I know right now they have to get sponsorship for Matt’s car. If they get sponsorship for Matt’s car, it’ll kind of open up the door for whatever else we’re doing. If I had a choice, I’d like to run another full year of Nationwide and part-time in Cup.” RFR president Steve Newmark said the organization will decide in the next month whether to stay with four Cup teams or shrink to three. Depending on that, the formula for the Nationwide series could range from zero to two teams. Newmark didn’t rule out that Stenhouse could split a ride in the Cup series with Ragan in an unsponsored or partially sponsored No. 6. Stenhouse was reminded that team owner Jack Roush fielded an unsponsored car for Jeff Burton several years ago.(ESPN)(10-12-2011)
