HYAK Motorsports Overview
HYAK Motorsports is a NASCAR Cup Series team based in Harrisburg, North Carolina. The organization fields the No. 47 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 full-time for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and operates with a technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports.
HYAK Motorsports emerged in 2025 as a rebranded successor to a long-running team that began competing in the national NASCAR ranks in 1995. The current ownership group lists Gordon Smith as principal owner alongside Brad Daugherty, Mark Hughes, and Ernie Cope.
Founding and Organizational Origins
The team traces its roots to 1995 when it debuted as ST Racing, founded by advertising executive Tad Geschickter and crew chief Steve Plattenberger. ST Racing entered the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series and established an operational base focused on stock car competition and driver development.
Over time the organization expanded its management and ownership structure, rebranding to JTG Racing and later to JTG Daugherty Racing after Brad Daugherty joined the ownership group in 2008. That evolution set the stage for eventual independent Cup Series competition and the business decisions that followed, including charter transactions and technical alliances.
Growth Into NASCAR Competition
The team advanced from Busch/Nationwide level competition into the NASCAR Cup Series through partnerships and strategic technical alliances. Early Cup involvement included co-entries and technical arrangements with established teams while the organization built out its shop, personnel, and car programs.
Expansion efforts included moving to a multi-car operation in the late 2010s and acquiring charters to secure full-season entries. The program worked with a variety of manufacturers and partners over time and forged technical relationships with Michael Waltrip Racing, Richard Childress Racing, and later Hendrick Motorsports to support Cup-level competitiveness.
Driver recruitment and development played a major role in the team’s growth, with the organization fielding established veterans and emerging talents across national series. Notable drivers who have competed under the team’s banner include Marcos Ambrose, Bobby Labonte, A. J. Allmendinger, Chris Buescher, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
HYAK Motorsports Competitive Journey
The team’s racing progression spans grassroots Busch Series beginnings, intermittent Craftsman Truck Series efforts, a sustained Nationwide/Xfinity presence, and the modern era of full-time NASCAR Cup Series participation. That journey features technical alliances, charter acquisitions, and on-track milestones that shaped the organization’s competitive identity.
Early Seasons and Development (1995–2008)
The organization debuted at the 1995 Goody’s 300 in the Busch Grand National Series with Jeff Fuller driving the No. 47, and Fuller earned Rookie of the Year honors that season. Through the late 1990s and early 2000s the team ran a variety of drivers and gained experience in car preparation, sponsorship partnerships, and race operations at the national level.
In the mid-2000s the team ran entries in multiple NASCAR national divisions including the Craftsman Truck Series, where the truck program debuted in 2006 and produced competitive runs and a pole position. The Busch/Nationwide program delivered several strong results and established the team as a capable contender for road course and short-track events.
Breakthrough in Cup Series (2009–2023)
Transitioning into full-time Cup Series competition, the team recorded incremental gains before achieving its first Cup victory in 2014 when A. J. Allmendinger won at Watkins Glen. That win secured a spot in the championship chase and marked the organization’s first major breakthrough at the sport’s highest level.
The team continued to develop its Cup program, changing manufacturers and technical partners as part of its effort to improve performance. In 2019 the organization established a technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports, and in 2020 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. joined the No. 47 effort, delivering immediate highlights including a pole at the 2020 Daytona 500 and competitive finishes at intermediate and superspeedway events.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. scored the team’s most prominent victory to date by winning the 2023 Daytona 500, and the organization also collected a dramatic Talladega victory in 2024. Those results underscored the program’s capacity to contend on superspeedways and in marquee events while continuing to seek broader consistency across the Cup season.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2024–Present)
Prior to the 2025 season the organization underwent a change in principal ownership and identity, rebranding to HYAK Motorsports under principal owner Gordon Smith with Brad Daugherty, Mark Hughes, and Ernie Cope completing the ownership group. The rebrand aligned with a desire to refresh commercial partnerships and set a new competitive direction for the Cup program.
HYAK Motorsports competes with Chevrolet equipment and maintains a technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports to support car preparation and engineering. The team retains its base in Harrisburg, North Carolina, and fields the No. 47 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 full-time for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. as it seeks stable sponsorship and incremental performance gains.
Engineering Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
The team’s technical approach emphasizes collaboration with established manufacturers and technical partners to refine chassis setup and aero packages for Cup competition. Historically the organization has delivered strong results on road courses and superspeedways, reflecting focused development for those track types and strategic race execution in high-speed pack racing environments.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Key milestones include the team’s Busch Series debut in 1995, a Nationwide/Xfinity-level road-course victory at Watkins Glen, the organization’s first Cup victory at Watkins Glen in 2014, and the 2023 Daytona 500 win. Additional landmark moments include expansion to a multi-car operation, acquisition of charters to secure full-season entries, and the 2025 rebrand to HYAK Motorsports under new principal ownership.
HYAK Motorsports Achievements and Results
Across national series the organization has recorded verified race victories, pole positions, and sustained development of drivers. Career totals include seven national series race victories, twelve pole positions, and no drivers’ championships to date.
Cup Series Achievements
The team has recorded three Cup Series victories, including its first Cup win at Watkins Glen in 2014 and the 2023 Daytona 500 victory. The program has also earned Cup pole positions, highlighted by Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s pole for the 2020 Daytona 500, and has produced playoff appearances including the 2014 championship chase entry.
Xfinity Series Achievements
At the Nationwide/Xfinity level the organization collected four race victories and multiple pole positions while operating under earlier team names. Those results contributed to the team’s reputation for road-course performance and served as a development platform for drivers who later competed full-time in the Cup Series.
Truck Series and Development Program Success
The team’s Craftsman Truck Series entries in the mid-2000s yielded competitive runs, one pole position, and driver development milestones including a Rookie of the Year campaign in the truck ranks. Financial constraints ultimately curtailed sustained Truck Series operations, but the program provided valuable experience and contributed to the organization’s driver pipeline.
