Hyak Motorsports is an American stock car racing team that competes in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team fields the No. 47 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 full-time for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and has a technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports. The team was founded in 1995 as ST Racing. It scored its first Cup Series win in 2014 with driver A. J. Allmendinger and won the 2023 Daytona 500 with Stenhouse.
History
The team was founded in 1995 as ST Racing by advertising executive Tad Geschickter and crew chief Steve Plattenberger, competing in the Busch Grand National Series (now the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series). In 2006, the team rebranded to JTG Racing under the ownership of Geschickter and his wife Jodi, and began competing in the Cup Series, initially as a co-entry with Wood Brothers Racing. Former NBA All-Star center Brad Daugherty joined the ownership group in 2008 to form JTG Daugherty Racing. Under this name, the team would begin competing independently from the Wood Brothers in 2009, score their first Cup Series win in 2014 with driver A. J. Allmendinger, and win the 2023 Daytona 500 with Stenhouse. Other notable drivers to compete for the team during this period include Marcos Ambrose, Bobby Labonte, and Chris Buescher.
Before the 2024 season, the Geschickters quietly left the team, moving into a role at Joe Gibbs Racing. Entrepreneur Gordon Smith would become principal owner thereafter and rebranded the team to Hyak Motorsports for the 2025 season; Daugherty, Mark Hughes and Ernie Cope completed the ownership group at that time. The name "Hyak" means "fast" in Chinook Jargon, and is also in reference to Smith's marine transportation company Hyak Maritime.
Cup Series
Car No. 37 history Chris Buescher (2017–2019)
In November 2016, the team announced plans to expand to two cars for the 2017 season. On November 29, Roush Fenway Racing leased their No. 16 charter to JTG, while also loaning driver Chris Buescher to the team. The new car was revealed to be the No. 37 on December 12. During the 2016-17 offseason, it was revealed that the sponsors of the 37 car would be products sold at Kroger stores like Cottonelle, Cheerios, Bush's Baked Beans, Kingsford, and Scott Products. Liberty Tax Service was added as a sponsor on June 2, 2017. In 2018, JTGDR purchased Furniture Row Racing's No. 77 charter for the No. 37; the charter leased from Roush Fenway Racing was subsequently sold to Team Penske for the No. 12.
Throughout his three-year tenure in the No. 37, Buescher's best finish was fifth at both Daytona races in 2018, and his best points finish was twentieth in 2019. On September 25, 2019, it was announced that Buescher will return to Roush Fenway Racing to replace Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the No. 17 Ford in 2020.
Ryan Preece (2020–2021)
On August 16, 2019, Ryan Preece confirmed he would return to JTG Daugherty Racing for the 2020 season, this time, in the No. 37, with his new teammate Stenhouse (who replaced Buescher) in the No. 47 which Preece drove in 2019. Prior to the 2020 Auto Club 400 at Fontana, the No. 37 team was docked 10 owner and driver points and crew chief Trent Owens was suspended for the race after the car was discovered to have an illegal modification during pre-race inspection. Preece struggled mightily throughout the 2020 season, finishing last a total of four times, three of them consecutively. After a violent wreck at Kansas where he walked away unharmed, Preece managed to score two top-10 finishes but ended the season 29th in the standings. For the 2021 season, the No. 37 would be the only full-time non-chartered team after Spire Motorsports purchased the team's charter. Following the 2021 season, the No. 37 team was shut down.
Car No. 37 results Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Pts 2017 Chris Buescher 37 Chevy DAY35 ATL24 LVS23 PHO27 CAL25 MAR11 TEX21 BRI39 RCH17 TAL15 KAN18 CLT20 DOV23 POC19 MCH36 SON19 DAY10 KEN16 NHA25 IND9 POC28 GLN11 MCH6 BRI27 DAR17 RCH32 CHI27 NHA21 DOV30 CLT18 TAL17 KAN6 MAR21 TEX22 PHO37 HOM20 26th 564 2018 DAY5 ATL25 LVS15 PHO29 CAL30 MAR23 TEX15 BRI36 RCH26 TAL11 DOV20 KAN34 CLT29 POC17 MCH24 SON12 CHI22 DAY5 KEN23 NHA20 POC37 GLN20 MCH20 BRI19 DAR13 IND25 LVS15 RCH30 CLT17 DOV25 TAL21 KAN16 MAR13 TEX23 PHO18 HOM23 24th 585 2019 DAY37 ATL9 LVS18 PHO16 CAL16 MAR21 TEX20 BRI22 RCH22 TAL30 DOV23 KAN10 CLT6 POC14 MCH16 SON16 CHI18 DAY17 KEN10 NHA15 POC16 GLN13 MCH14 BRI17 DAR12 IND15 LVS18 RCH31 CLT18 DOV36 TAL20 KAN13 MAR12 TEX19 PHO16 HOM16 20th 729 2020 Ryan Preece DAY29 LVS37 CAL30 PHO18 DAR20 DAR39 CLT22 CLT24 BRI12 ATL26 MAR26 HOM24 TAL15 POC20 POC25 IND40 KEN38 TEX40 KAN34 NHA16 MCH25 MCH16 DRC23 DOV25 DOV26 DAY37 DAR17 RCH20 BRI9 LVS19 TAL10 CLT14 KAN29 TEX18 MAR19 PHO34 29th 477 2021 DAY6 DRC9 HOM21 LVS15 PHO26 ATL25 BRI18 MAR36 RCH29 TAL14 KAN32 DAR25 DOV18 COA15 CLT26 SON21 NSS32 POC23 POC8 ROA40 ATL25 NHA22 GLN28 IND35 MCH21 DAY4 DAR12 RCH25 BRI17 LVS28 TAL32 CLT19 TEX36 KAN21 MAR36 PHO20 27th 557
Car No. 47 history
In 2006, JTG Racing started a partnership with Wood Brothers Racing to field the No. 21 car under the banner of Wood Brothers/JTG Racing. JTG Daugherty attempted to make their Cup Series debut at Las Vegas with Ken Schrader behind the wheel of the No. 47 Ford Fusion, a second car to the Wood Brothers' No. 21, but the team failed to qualify for the race. Jon Wood attempted to qualify the No. 47 at Kansas, but also failed to make the field.
Marcos Ambrose (2008–2010)
With the new ownership at JTG Daugherty Racing in 2008, they fielded the No. 47 car with Marcos Ambrose behind the wheel. Ambrose finished 22nd at Indianapolis and 36th at Kansas. On October 1, JTGDR signed a deal to enter into a technical alliance with Michael Waltrip Racing for the 2009 season, effectively switching from the Ford Fusion to the Toyota Camry.
During the team's first full-time run in 2009, Ambrose finished an impressive fourth at Talladega, third at Sonoma, second at Watkins Glen, and third at Bristol. With a total of seven top-ten finishes, he ended the season eighteenth in the points standings.
The No. 47 car with Ambrose saw a decline in performance in 2010, with the highlight being a duel with race winner Juan Pablo Montoya at Watkins Glen to finish third. With a total of five top-ten finishes, Ambrose ended the season 27th in the points standings. After the season, Ambrose left the team to drive for Richard Petty Motorsports in 2011.
Bobby Labonte (2011–2013)
For the 2011 season JTGDR signed 2000 Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte to drive the No. 47 car. Labonte started the season with a fourth place finish at the 2011 Daytona 500. Alongside a seventh place finish at New Hampshire, he finished the season 29th in the points standings.
The 2012 season saw a slight improvement in finishes, with top-ten finishes at the Daytona night race and the Martinsville fall race, ending the season 26th in the points standings.
After a 15th place finish at the 2013 Daytona 500, Labonte struggled through the first fourteen races of the 2013 season before splitting the rest of the season with A. J. Allmendinger, who scored the team's sole top-ten finish at Watkins Glen during the season. The No. 47 car finished 31st in the points standings.
A. J. Allmendinger (2013–2018)
On August 29, 2013, Sporting News reported that Allmendinger would be the full-time driver for JTGDR in 2014. The team also switched to Chevrolet and formed a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing.
During the 2014 season, Allmendinger scored top-ten finishes at Fontana, Richmond, and Talladega. He also made the field at the Sprint All-Star Race after finishing second to Clint Bowyer on the Sprint Showdown. At Watkins Glen, Allmendinger led 29 laps to give JTGDR its first win and a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. After scoring a top-ten finish at Martinsville, he ended the season 13th in the points standings - the highest finish in the team's history.
The 2015 season saw a decline in performance, as Allmendinger scored only three top-ten finishes and ended the season 22nd in the points standings. Allmendinger and Kroger inked a multi-year contract extension following the season.
For 2016, Allmendinger scored top-five finishes at Martinsville and Watkins Glen, totaling to nine top-ten finishes and ending the season twentieth in the points standings.
Allmendinger started the 2017 season with a third place finish at the 2017 Daytona 500. With a total of five top-ten finishes, he ended the season 28th in the points standings.
Allmendinger began the 2018 season with a tenth place finish at the 2018 Daytona 500. He later followed it up with a third place finish at the Daytona summer race. With a total of five top-ten finishes, Allmendinger ended the season 22nd in the points standings.
Ryan Preece (2019)
On September 25, 2018, it was announced that Allmendinger would part ways with JTG Daugherty at the end of the 2018 season. Three days later, it was announced that Ryan Preece would replace him as the driver of the No. 47 in 2019. In addition, Preece would compete for 2019 Rookie of the Year honors. Furthermore, JTGDR switched their technical alliance from RCR to Hendrick Motorsports.
Preece started the 2019 season with an eighth-place finish at the 2019 Daytona 500. Throughout the season, he scored one top-five and three top-ten finishes, and ended the season 26th in the points standings.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2020–present)
On October 16, 2019, JTGDR announced Ricky Stenhouse Jr. would drive the No. 47 in 2020. The team later announced that Stenhouse would drive the car with Brian Pattie as the crew chief and moved Preece to the No. 37 car.
Stenhouse got off to a quick start for the team, winning the pole for the 2020 Daytona 500, the first pole for JTGDR on an oval. He followed up a twentieth place finish at Daytona with a strong showing at Las Vegas, leading thirty laps and finishing third. Prior to the 2020 Auto Club 400 at Fontana, the No. 47 team was docked ten owner and driver points and crew chief Brian Pattie was suspended for the race after the car was discovered to have an illegal modification during pre-race inspection. Stenhouse later finished fourth in the 2020 Alsco Uniforms 500 and followed it up by finishing second at Talladega in a close race. He ended his first season with the team 24th in the standings.
Stenhouse began the 2021 season with an 18th place finish at the 2021 Daytona 500. He earned his best finish of the season of 2nd place at the inaugural Bristol Dirt Race. He ended the season 22nd in the standings.
Stenhouse began the 2022 season with a 28th place DNF at the 2022 Daytona 500. He earned his best finish of the season of 2nd place at Dover. He ended the season one top-five and five top-ten finishes.
Stenhouse started the 2023 season by winning the 2023 Daytona 500, scoring his third career victory, and second for JTGDR. He was eliminated at the conclusion of the Round of 16.
Stenhouse began the 2024 season with a 31st place DNF at the 2024 Daytona 500. At the 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race, he was sent to the outside wall by Kyle Busch on lap two. After the race, Stenhouse attacked Busch in the garage area, triggering a brawl between the drivers and their pit crew. NASCAR later fined Stenhouse 75,000 for the incident; in addition, his father, Ricky Stenhouse Sr., was suspended indefinitely while team mechanic Clint Myrick was suspended for eight races and tuner Keith Matthews was suspended for four races for their involvement in the fight. Stenhouse Sr.'s suspension was lifted on September 24. Despite mediocre finishes that left him out of playoff contention, Stenhouse won at Talladega after beating Brad Keselowski by .006 seconds.