TALLADEGA, Ala. – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. traveled a long way just to turn onto Victory Lane.

When he finally got there, in his 158th career NASCAR Cup Series start, his team owner and famous girlfriend were waiting.

His father? Well, he was a little late to the party.

A last-lap pass of Kyle Busch in overtime Sunday got Stenhouse the win in the Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, the first victory for resurgent Roush Fenway Racing since 2014. Danica Patrick, who had wrecked out of the race, was in street clothes and able to lean into the car to give her boyfriend a congratulatory kiss. Team owner Jack Roush was waiting, too.

"Pulling into Victory Lane and seeing Jack and Danica standing there together, they're the same height, it was super special," he said. "She's been so supportive and knows how hard that I've worked, and to have her there was really awesome."

Ricky Stenhouse Sr. needed a police escort.

Associated Press, Star Tribune
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

The elder Stenhouse tried to climb a fence along the Talladega backstretch and cross the track to find his way to the celebration. When that didn't work, he began running along a perimeter road. Security picked him up, placed him in a car and questioned him. Finally vetted, he was driven to meet his son.

"My dad has done so much for me in my career," Stenhouse said. "Everything that I've learned is from him."

A two-time champion in the Xfinity Series, Stenhouse had not transferred that success to the next level. Before this year, he had just seven top-five finishes and led just 44 laps.

Now he's in the All-Star race later this month, and has earned a spot in NASCAR's playoffs.

"We've been terrible for a long time, but we've been getting better and better every race," Stenhouse said.

Stenhouse started from the pole and praised the power from his Doug Yates-built Ford engine for the speed. Then he used that speed to snatch the race away with a last-lap pass of Busch.

Jamie McMurray finished second in a Chevrolet, followed by Busch in his Toyota.