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Reigning NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. said not only has he been following the "Cinderella Story" of the NBA's Jeremy Lin, but that he relates to it.

"Watching him is impressive,'' Stenhouse said of the New York Knicks point guard who has led his team to seven straight wins since breaking into the lineup this month. "I've watched him play just about every game he's played and that's pretty cool to see.

"There's a guy that people overlooked and he got the opportunity and he's making the best of it. That's what we have to do as drivers. I got the opportunity with Roush Fenway Racing. We struggled a little bit, but (team owner) Jack (Roush) gave me almost like another opportunity and we stepped up as a race team and came home with the championship."

Stenhouse also likened Lin's story to that of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, another pro athlete who just had a breakout season against the odds. Stenhouse will not only be racing in the Nationwide Series again this season, but he's also driving Roush Fenway's No. 6 Ford in the Daytona 500.

"I definitely (draw inspiration from them),'' Stenhouse said. "You just have to have that chance and that faith that you're there for the reasons that you can do it. You've got to believe in yourself and I think we're in that same position coming into the Daytona 500."