2025 Cup Series Team Preview: Hyak Motorsports

The renamed Hyak Motorsports team is chasing similar NASCAR Cup Series success this year with returning driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (John Harrelson/Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Tale of the Tape:

Driver: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Age: 37

Experience: Enters 13th full-time season

Crew Chief: Mike Kelley

2024 ranking: 25th in final standings: 1 win, 3 top fives, 6 top 10s.

HARRISBURG, N.C. – A new year brings with it a newly rebranded franchise, at least for JTG Daugherty Racing, now known as Hyak Motorsports for 2025 and beyond.

Having been a NASCAR Cup Series staple and known as JTG Daugherty since 2009, the organization has had big moments throughout the years and notably added a Daytona 500 win to its trophy case in 2023.

However, while the name on the door might’ve changed, the mentality and message for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. hasn’t changed. That is to compete each week and capitalize on opportunities to win when given.

Stenhouse Jr.’s win at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway last October – three-wide and in overtime by .006 seconds – is a prime example of that messaging from team co-owners Gordon Smith, Brad Daugherty, Mark Hughes, and Ernie Cope.

A common narrative in sports is that with age comes wisdom and savviness. For Stenhouse, who is 37 years old and entering his 13th full time NASCAR Cup Series season, he’s seen slow but steady progress in his results.

For the first time in his career, Stenhouse has won races in back-to-back seasons as a Cup Series driver. Additionally, he secured his most top five finishes in a season since 2020 last year.

Now, as one of six drivers in the field aged 37 or older, another run as a dark horse playoff spoiler – influenced by experience over many of his competitors – isn’t out of the picture.

Here’s where things could be favorable for Ricky Stenhouse Jr headed into 2025.

Tracks of Contention: 

• Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway: (Won 2023 Daytona 500 and has two career wins there)
• Iowa Speedway: (Was fifth in the Cup Series race in June and has three Xfinity Series wins there)
• Talladega Superspeedway: (Eight career top fives and holds two career wins there)

Throughout his career and in recent years, the formula for the Olive Branch, Miss., native is to compete for top 20s week in and week out, but be up front to win at drafting tracks in Daytona, Talladega and Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway.

While that may be the case for Stenhouse again this year, he’ll need to develop consistency, be involved in fewer wrecks, and put his team into situations to succeed on track.

Time and time again, the drivers in similar situations to Stenhouse have put all their eggs all in one basket — hoping for a Hail Mary win on a superspeedway.

However, with new leadership comes new life. For some athletes and teams it takes a new voice, a new influence, and new philosophy to reach new heights. That’s something the Hyak camp is looking to prove come mid-February.

The 2025 Cup Series season begins with the non-points Cook Out Clash at Bowman-Gray (N.C.) Stadium on Feb. 2, followed by the 67th annual Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway on Feb. 16.

Coverage of both races will air on FOX, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.