Here's one lunch date NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won't want to miss

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. discovered just how big his win at Talladega Superspeedway was last week. It's not every day he receives an invitation to lunch from the governor of Mississippi.

"I hope I can do that some time," Stenhouse, a native of Olive Branch, Miss., said Friday at Kansas Speedway, where he was still basking in the glow of his first career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory. "He is a big race car guy and loves racing.”

Stenhouse said he met Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant earlier this year after the Daytona 500 and spoke to the House of Representatives at the state capitol.

"Now, we've got a win," Stenhouse said, "and he was super excited."

Stenhouse also heard from other fellow Mississippians who consider Talladega their home track.

"I saw some old teachers of mine when I was growing up send out some things on social media," said Stenhouse, 29. "Just to have all your friends, people you race with at home, super proud of you. It was really cool. They know this was my biggest win of my career and toughest one. It was cool to see the response and made me feel really good.”

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The response on the home front was good as well. Stenhouse didn't use his first career win as bragging rights over girlfriend Danica Patrick, who still is seeking her first NASCAR win.

"We never mess with each other when it comes to that stuff because it means so much to us," Patrick said. "It would be a pretty (rotten) thing to do.

"When it comes to golf or something, I would totally mess with him. But when it comes to something like this, no. We don't talk about that.

"I was simply happy for him. My weekend (stunk) again, but ... if I was going to have one race where I didn't get all the way to the finish line or have a good finish or win, I'm glad I had the chance to watch him win."

PHOTOS: DANICA PATRICK AND RICKY STENHOUSE JR.