Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will return to JTG Daugherty Racing in 2022

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. stated Thursday that he will return to JTG Daugherty Racing in the No. 47 Chevrolet for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season. A one-year contract was reached between the two parties.

Stenhouse will be working with JTG Daugherty for the third time in 2022, having joined before the 2020 schedule. In his first year with the team, Stenhouse finished three times in the top five and four times in the top ten. With six races left in the season, he has one top five and two top ten finishes.

“I’m just looking forward to a third season with the team,” Stenhouse said on a Zoom teleconference. “I felt like this year was kind of like the first year with the organization with the way last year went and the way it was kind of thrown on us, not being able to hang out with the guys, be at the shop and really spend time with each. Now I’m really enjoying (it).”

Roush Fenway Racing was where Stenhouse started his full-time NASCAR Cup Series career in 2013. In 2017, he won two races in the No. 17 Ford, at Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona International Speedway.

Aside from his personal news, Stenhouse also stated that JTG Daugherty will only field one car in 2022, rather than the normal two. The No. 37 Chevrolet’s run will come to an end at the end of the season, leaving Ryan Preece without a ride for next year.

Stenhouse will compete without a teammate for the first time in his career.

“I definitely think it could be a negative on one hand and a positive on the other,” Stenhouse said. “When you’re practicing and testing and can have more ideas and run different things through both cars, it definitely speeds the process up. But we would also have to share the seat when it comes to testing. I feel like what I look for in a race car and what somebody else looks for in a race car and the way they drive is sometimes totally different. So, I feel like we’re going to be able to build the car around me.”

Stenhouse was referring to the upcoming Next Gen car, which will make its competitive debut in 2022. The Clash, which will take place on February 6 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, will be its first exhibition race. The season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 20 will be the first points-paying race.

NASCAR will hold three organizational tests, two at Charlotte Motor Speedway (Oct. 11-12 on the Roval; Nov. 17-18 on the oval) and one at Phoenix Raceway (Oct. 11-12 on the Roval; Nov. 17-18 on the oval) (Dec. 7-8). Stenhouse will be JTG Daugherty’s only pilot, whereas other teams will have to exchange drivers. He sees the extra seat time as an advantage.

“I think next year could be our best year yet,” Stenhouse said, “even my best year in Cup in general.”

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