2023 DAYTONA 500 Champion Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. is officially off the free agent market, confirming on Monday that he’s signed a multi-year contract extension with NASCAR Cup Series team HYAK Motorsports.
Stenhouse will continue to serve as the driver of the No. 47 Chevrolet, the entry he’s piloted since 2020, for the foreseeable future.
“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.”
A native of Olive Branch, Mississippi, Stenhouse has been to Victory Lane four times in the NASCAR Cup Series, twice with what is now HYAK Motorsports and all on drafting tracks. In 228 starts with HYAK, Stenhouse has recorded two wins, 12 top-five, and 31 top-10 finishes.
“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 [Smith],” said Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. “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.”
“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.”
At the one-third point of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series campaign, Stenhouse and HYAK Motorsports currently sit 27th in NASCAR Cup Series point standings, on the strength of a single top-five result in the DAYTONA 500 and two top-10s.
Photo: Jim Fluharty, HHP
