Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has directly addressed the circulating Spire Motorsports driver rumors for 2026, confirming that he has no plans to join the team and will continue racing for HYAK Motorsports. This statement brings clarity amid speculation about his potential move, as Justin Haley’s position at Spire Motorsports has come under scrutiny following a challenging season.
Stenhouse Sets the Record Straight on 2026 Plans
The rumors surfaced during a relatively quiet NASCAR Silly Season, focusing on whether Stenhouse might replace Justin Haley in the No. 7 Chevrolet. Despite Haley’s ongoing struggles this year, Stenhouse moved quickly to put the rumors to rest in an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. He was unequivocal about his intentions to remain with HYAK Motorsports beyond the current season.
“For me, you know, we re-did my contract last year with HYAK Motorsports. So, I’m here through [20]26, unless they tell me otherwise, or unless we redo another one and stay there for longer,”
—Ricky Stenhouse Jr., NASCAR Driver
SiriusXM NASCAR Radio amplified Stenhouse’s message, stating, “I’m here through ’26.”Amid rumors about his future, Ricky @StenhouseJr says he’ll be with @HYAKMotorsports for the 2026 season. Full Interview–> https://t.co/MKhd9eLpQA pic.twitter.com/Cij8IDtC5A— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) September 2, 2025
A Look at Stenhouse’s Recent Performance
Since 2020, Stenhouse, age 37, has been at the wheel of the No. 47 car, first under JTG Daugherty Racing, now known as HYAK Motorsports. This year began with promise, as he reached the top 15 in points standings by May. However, his results faltered after the All-Star Race, earning just one top ten finish in recent months and slipping to 29th in points after a string of finishes outside the top 20.
Team Focus: Building Consistency for Next Year
Despite recent setbacks, the driver and his crew are aiming to resolve their performance issues and lay a solid foundation for future success. Stenhouse emphasized the importance of working together to overcome current challenges and prepare for a more competitive season ahead.
“For me, [Crew Chief] Mike [Kelley] and the boys, like I said, we’re working hard on trying to figure out how we can get some consistency and a little bit more speed heading into the offseason so we can hit the ground running for next year,”
—Ricky Stenhouse Jr., NASCAR Driver
He went on to note his commitment to the No. 47 team:
“I’ve got a great group of guys who work hard, and we all want the same thing. I’ll be at the 47 the rest of this year, and the offseason, and going into ’26.”
—Ricky Stenhouse Jr., NASCAR Driver
What This Means for Spire Motorsports and Silly Season Rumors
With Stenhouse’s public commitment to HYAK Motorsports through 2026, speculation about Spire Motorsports’ future driver lineup can be set aside—for now. Justin Haley’s place with Spire remains uncertain, but Stenhouse’s decision removes him as a candidate for any prospective vacancy. As NASCAR’s Silly Season advances, clear statements like these provide teams, sponsors, and fans with crucial information on potential moves within the sport.
The coming months will reveal how Haley’s situation develops and whether Spire Motorsports makes any changes ahead of the 2026 campaign. For now, the focus remains on finishing the current NASCAR season and building momentum for next year at HYAK Motorsports.
