JOLIET, Ill. — Before his NASCAR race on Saturday, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. said of his sponsors Blue Bird and ROUSH CleanTech, “Hopefully we can get them into victory lane for their NASCAR debut.”

His hope came to fruition at the Chicagoland Speedway, where he won the Dollar General 300. Stenhouse, the defending NASCAR Nationwide Series champion, crossed the finish line 2.402 seconds ahead of Kyle Busch for his fifth victory of the season.

Blue Bird and ROUSH CleanTech served as the primary sponsors for Stenhouse, driving a Ford Mustang, and his No. 6 team.

Erin Lake, marketing communications manager for Blue Bird, noted that the design on his car was meant to resemble a school bus, with its yellow paint, Blue Bird logos and even black “rub rails” on the sides.

Watching from Blue Bird's suite at the Chicagoland Speedway, about 80 Blue Bird dealers and personnel cheered for Stenhouse during the race.

“What a suspenseful and exhilarating race!" Blue Bird President and CEO Phil Horlock said. "Blue Bird dealers and personnel are ecstatic over Stenhouse’s win. ... It’s not every day that you see a NASCAR car styled to replicate a school bus, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to see the Blue Bird/ROUSH CleanTech ‘bus’ in victory lane!”

Stenhouse reportedly referred to his Mustang as a "bus" throughout communications with his team.

“It is always great to get a new sponsor into victory lane," Stenhouse said. "Blue Bird had a huge group there supporting our No. 6 team, so I am glad we could put the bright yellow bus into victory lane for them.”