JTG Daugherty Racing is rebranding to HYAK Motorsports, the team announced on Thursday.
Gordon Smith, who became the principal owner of the organization following the conclusion of the 2023 season, will be the majority owner of the organization moving forward.
Brad Daugherty, Ernie Cope, and Mark Hughes will also serve as co-owners of HYAK Motorsports.
Aside from the changes to the name and ownership structure of the organization, no major details will be altered heading into 2025. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. will continue to drive the No. 47 Chevrolet Camaro full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“Becoming the owner of Hyak Motorsports brings an exciting opportunity,” said Gordon Smith, Team Owner/CEO. “I look forward to building on the team’s accomplishments, investing in its future, and driving toward new successes in partnership with our fans, sponsors, and team members.”
The name “HYAK” comes from the Chinook Jargon word for “FAST”. Chinook Jargon is a trade language of the Pacific Northwest that incorporates terms from Chinook, Chehalis, and many other local languages.
“I’m really excited about 2025 as our company continues to evolve,” said Brad Daugherty, one of the four owners of the team. “Our goal is to compete and win races at the highest level of NASCAR. The name change signifies that commitment and desire to be our very best.”
Tad and Jodi Geschickter, the founding owners of JTG Daugherty Racing, have relinquished their ownership stakes in the operation.
Having facilitated the sponsorship agreement with grocery store giant Kroger through company BAM LLC, Geschickter moved the sponsorship program to RFK Racing ahead of next season.
“2025 will begin a new era for this company,” said Ernie Cope, team co-owner. “We’re still committed to being a winning team with Ricky and the entire No. 47 crew. This is just the next step in elevating the team to another level.”
As of the time of this announcement, the organization has yet to announce primary sponsorship for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series campaign.
