Brad Keselowski and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are experiencing alterations to their spotter arrangements ahead of the upcoming NASCAR Cup race at Pocono. According to a recent update from NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass on X, several drivers across the Cup and Truck Series are undergoing spotter lineup changes, including Keselowski and Stenhouse Jr.
TJ Majors is resuming his role as spotter for Brad Keselowski after a period of absence caused by a medical issue. Majors is also returning to his spotting duties for Carson Kvapil and Matt Mills, who races for BJ McLeod’s team. These changes come after Majors was temporarily replaced by Todd Brewer during his recovery period.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., representing Hyak Motorsports, has appointed Clayton Hughes as his new spotter, replacing Tab Boyd. Boyd was removed following the controversy sparked by his remarks during the recent Cup race weekend in Mexico City. Meanwhile, in the Truck Series, Freddie Kraft has taken over spotting duties for Giovanni Ruggiero, supplanting Frank Kimmel II.
TJ Majors Returns to Full Duty as Keselowski’s Spotter
TJ Majors, Keselowski’s longtime spotter, paused his role after undergoing a medical procedure, sidelining him for about a month. Todd Brewer filled in temporarily during that period. However, the latest reports suggest Majors has fully resumed his spotting responsibilities for Keselowski and other drivers like Kvapil and Mills, though official confirmation from the teams has not yet been issued.
New Spotter Replaces Tab Boyd for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. After Controversy
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s spotter change is a notable development following backlash over comments made by former spotter Tab Boyd during the Mexico City race weekend. Boyd’s exact status is uncertain, but he has been removed from all active spotter roles. Clayton Hughes, a respected figure in NASCAR who previously worked with Martin Truex Jr., has taken over as Stenhouse’s spotter, signaling a fresh chapter for the Hyak Motorsports driver.
Spotter Shift in Truck Series: Freddie Kraft Joins Giovanni Ruggiero
In Truck Series news, Freddie Kraft is now spotting for Giovanni Ruggiero, replacing Frank Kimmel II. Kraft is more widely known as Bubba Wallace’s spotter in the Cup Series, making this a significant role expansion amid the ongoing spotter reshuffling.
Brad Keselowski Reflects on Disappointing Michigan Race Outcome
Following a challenging FireKeepers Casino 400 race at Michigan International Speedway, Brad Keselowski openly shared his frustrations stemming from a pit road speeding penalty that undermined his race strategy. Speaking to NBC, Keselowski acknowledged the strong pace of his car but expressed deep disappointment over the penalty and pit stall complications that hindered his progress.
“We had a really good car. I felt like we had a top two or three car and just didn’t get to see it through. I’m really disappointed. We kind of crushed ourselves on pit road with the speeding penalty and then having to go around the 45 and the 71. Every time we pitted we would lose a lot of spots.”
Starting 27th, Keselowski made gradual progress by reaching 21st at the end of Stage 1. However, early pit stops combined with the speeding infraction dropped him back to 25th at Stage 2’s conclusion. Despite the setbacks, he fought back in the final stage to finish 10th, just behind teammate Ryan Preece and ahead of Erik Jones.
Keselowski highlighted that the car had performance capable of a much stronger finish and emphasized that the pit crew was not responsible for the errors. He specifically pointed to the pit stall location and the unexpected speeding penalty as key factors that cost the team better placement.
“I’m not really sure on the speeding penalty. I felt I was way slow, so getting called fast didn’t really add up,”
Despite these frustrations, Keselowski valued a top-10 finish, noting that his team had three drivers finishing inside the top 10: Chris Buescher in second place behind Denny Hamlin, followed by Ryan Preece and Keselowski in ninth and tenth, respectively.
Implications of Spotter Lineup Shifts as Pocono Approaches
The return of TJ Majors to Brad Keselowski’s team is expected to restore some stability after recent disruptions, potentially improving in-race communication and strategy at the demanding Pocono Raceway. Meanwhile, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s introduction of Clayton Hughes as his new spotter may signal efforts to reset chemistry and focus following the controversies surrounding Tab Boyd.
Additionally, Freddie Kraft’s expanded role spotting for Giovanni Ruggiero in the Truck Series highlights broader adjustments in spotting roles across NASCAR that could impact race outcomes. As Pocono approaches, these changes may influence driver performance and team coordination in a critical mid-season race environment.
