Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Holding Steady with Hyak Motorsports' Progression
In the world of NASCAR, Hyak Motorsports, previously known as JTG Daugherty Racing, is navigating a challenging season in the prestigious Cup Series. The team, which runs the No. 47 Chevrolet driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., is currently experiencing some internal changes, although specific details about ownership alterations have not been disclosed.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., the veteran driver, has had a rollercoaster ride this season. After a tough start, including a disappointing finish at Nashville where he was spun out and placed last, Stenhouse has shown signs of improvement. As of mid-2025, he is ranked 21st in points, a position that offers some optimism about the car's performance. Despite being 61 points below the playoff cutoff, his current standing is better than it was at the same point the previous year.
The team's performance has been a mixed bag, with some tough races along the way. However, Stenhouse remains hopeful, finding positives in the performance of the No. 47 Chevrolet, especially heading into midseason races like Pocono Raceway. His career highlights include two Cup wins, including a Daytona 500 victory in 2023, a feat that caused shockwaves throughout the garage.
In terms of sponsorship, Hyak Motorsports continues with existing agreements without major changes reported. The team has attracted major partners such as SunnyD, Rate, Martin's Famous Potato Rolls, betr, Real American Beer, NOS Energy, Hungry Jack, Fun Pops, and several other firms. However, the team is currently searching for a new sponsor after Kroger, a long-term partner since 2010, left to partner with all three drivers at RFK Racing.
Despite the loss of a major corporate sponsor, Stenhouse's performance has remained stable. He is in his 13th Cup season and his team, Hyak Motorsports, has less than 30 full-time employees. Stenhouse has kept his team the same for the competition side, including his engineers and shop guys. He and his crew chief, Mike Kelley, have been working closely to dissect races and avoid putting themselves in bad positions before the end of the race.
As the season progresses, Stenhouse needs a win in the final eight events before the playoffs begin to qualify for the postseason. If he can avoid some tough luck, he'd likely be right around the playoff bubble. With the team's recent improvements and Stenhouse's on-track aggression, which has earned him four career Nascar Cup Series wins, there's hope that Hyak Motorsports can turn their season around.
In a surprising move, Jodi and Tad Geschickter, the former owners of JTG Daugherty Racing, have left the ownership group. Gordon Smith is the new principal owner, with Brad Daugherty remaining as a minority owner. Despite the changes, Hyak Motorsports continues to be one of the biggest underdog stories in NASCAR, with a lack of major tech support.
For Stenhouse and Hyak Motorsports, the 2025 season has been a tough one, but they're showing signs of progress. As the team continues to work through their challenges, fans will be watching closely to see if they can secure a spot in the postseason.
Sports racing enthusiasts have been following the ups and downs of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the NASCAR Cup Series, where he competes with Hyak Motorsports, formerly known as JTG Daugherty Racing. Despite some internal changes within the team, including the exit of Brad Daugherty and Tad Geschickter and the arrival of new principal owner Gordon Smith, Stenhouse has managed to keep his team, including his longtime crew chief Mike Kelley, under the challenging circumstances. Although he is 61 points below the playoff cutoff, his 21st place ranking in points offers some optimism about the team's performance. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s career highlights include achieving two Cup wins, including a Daytona 500 victory in 2023, a feat that caused a stir throughout the auto-racing world.
