Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is stepping into new territory as he prepares for his first-ever start in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 45 Chevrolet for Niece Motorsports at Daytona International Speedway. His Truck Series debut, set during the opening rounds of the season, places him in a highly competitive environment with hopes of achieving another Daytona victory.
Stenhouse, a current full-time driver for Hyak Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series, will participate in the first two truck events before handing the wheel to Landon Lewis and Ross Chastain for the rest of the year. This marks a significant shift in Stenhouse’s career, as he has only competed outside the Cup Series twice in the last decade, despite having hundreds of national NASCAR starts since 2009.
A Long-Awaited Opportunity and Strong Partnership
After years of interest in joining the Truck Series, Stenhouse found the right fit with Niece Motorsports, a team known for their competitive edge. He reflected on his ambitions and the circumstances that led to this moment:
“I’ve always wanted to run a truck, but never had the opportunity to put something together,”
Stenhouse said.
His enthusiasm only grew after connecting with team leadership.
“When Cody (Efaw, Niece president and CEO) called me, I definitely had a lot of interest to see what all they have been building here at Niece Motorsports, especially looking at their level of competition,”
he added.
Stenhouse emphasized the importance of making his Truck Series debut at Daytona, considering the track’s significance in his career.
“With it being at Daytona, obviously winning the 500 was awesome, and I’d love to win a Truck Series race there, too. I’ve always wanted to race a truck, but I wanted it to be competitive, and this checks all those boxes,”
he continued.
Coming off a successful 2023 at Daytona, where he claimed the Daytona 500 and added a summer victory, Stenhouse’s history with the Speedway fuels optimism for another strong showing in his latest venture.
Reflections on Tough Times in the NASCAR Community
Stenhouse enters the new season amidst somber feelings within the NASCAR family. The recent losses of industry figures Greg Biffle and Dennis Hamlin, the latter being the father of Cup driver Denny Hamlin, have been deeply felt across the community.
“Yeah, NASCAR and motorsports in general is, you could say big, but it’s a small family,”
Stenhouse told Fox News Digital.
“It’s a massive footprint, but everybody’s really integrated, really close, and everybody feels that no matter what happens.”
He spoke openly about the emotional impact of these tragedies and how the racing community has supported one another.
“And I think we’re all just ready to get back on track, to get things that kind of let’s see if it’ll calm down a little bit. Just a tough offseason, for sure. But I think everybody has rallied around each other, rallied around those affected with the families, and we pick each other up,”
he added.
Looking Ahead to Daytona and Beyond
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. enters the Truck Series at Daytona with a strong track record, having previously won both the Daytona 500 and a summer race there. As a new member of the Niece Motorsports team, Stenhouse’s experience and ambition position him as a contender in his Truck Series debut. After his runs, Landon Lewis and Ross Chastain will take over driving duties for the No. 45, ensuring a competitive approach for the team throughout the season.
With the emotional turbulence of the offseason still present, Stenhouse is focused on returning to racing form and building on a Cup Series season that included one top five and three top ten finishes. As the new campaign begins, both Stenhouse and the NASCAR community look to Daytona as a place for renewal, competition, and hope for a brighter season ahead.
