Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will not be on the move this offseason, as the driver has reached a multi-year contract extension with Hyak Motorsports, which will keep him as the driver of the team’s No. 47 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2027 and beyond.
The team formerly known as JTG Daugherty Racing was rebranded Hyak Motorsports going into the 2025 season with the departure of Tad Geshickter from the team’s ownership group. As the team continues to grow, it sees Stenhouse as a major component of shifting the organization into a contender.
“Ricky has been a huge part of what we’re building at Hyak Motorsports, and we’re proud to continue this partnership for years to come,” said Gordon Smith, owner of Hyak Motorsports. “He brings experience, leadership, and a competitive mindset every weekend, and we believe there’s still a lot ahead for this team with Ricky in the No. 47.”
Stenhouse, who had been rumored to be among the many drivers who could potentially change rides this offseason in what’s expected to be a busy free agent driver market, is happy to return to Hyak Motorsports, as he feels Gordon Smith, the team’s owner, is truly passionate about the No. 47 team.
“I’m thrilled to finally get this contract extension done. It’s something we’ve been working on for a while, and I’m really thankful to everyone at Hyak Motorsports, especially Gordon,” said Stenhouse. “His vision for this race team and the passion he brings to it every single day is special. A lot of people may not know Gordon that well yet, but he truly cares about motorsports, NASCAR, and this No. 47 team, and that shows in everything he does.”
Stenhouse continued, “Along with Gordon, Brad, Mark, Ernie, and everyone at Hyak Motorsports, I feel like we’re continuing to improve week after week. It’s never easy being a single-car team, but the experience we’re gaining and the notebook we’re building is helping us get better and better. More than anything, this team feels like one big family. On and off the racetrack, we’re building something that has me really excited about the future of Hyak Motorsports and what we can accomplish together moving forward.”
By extending Stenhouse with a multi-year contract, this gives Hyak Motorsports stability and continuity behind the wheel as the team continues to try to move forward competitively.
Stenhouse, 38, is a four-time NASCAR Cup Series race-winning driver, including a victory in the 2023 Daytona 500. Stenhouse finished runner-up in the Daytona 500 earlier this season, and has two top-10 finishes through the opening 12 races of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.
