Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driving the No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet, saw his race end prematurely during Stage One at Daytona due to damage from a multi-car accident. The crash unfolded amid aggressive competition, taking Stenhouse Jr. out of the contention despite strong early positioning.
Details on the Collision and Race Circumstances
Stenhouse Jr. described the chaotic moment:
“I couldn’t really see anything. I got hit from about every direction after it happened. The No. 5 (Kyle Larson) got to the outside of the No. 22 (Joey Logano), which then in-turn, I think it put that row four-wide. I’m not sure what happened between the No. 22 and the No. 23 (Bubba Wallace). It was just really aggressive racing there. Our plan was to put our No. 47 Jack Link’s Duos Chevrolet towards the front and be at the front as much as possible. We got there, and I was in the position that I wanted to be in. I felt like we were going to get into turn one in probably fifth or sixth-place there and try to finish the stage out, but it didn’t happen.”
—Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
The incident occurred as Larson attempted a move on Logano, which compressed the field and created a dangerous four-wide formation. This aggressive racing style ultimately led to the pileup that stopped Stenhouse Jr.’s promising run early.
Performance Before the Accident
Before the crash, Stenhouse Jr. expressed confidence in his car’s capabilities.
“Our No. 47 Jack Link’s Duos felt really good. I was really stable. I felt like I had a little bit more speed, which was something I was excited about. I felt like I put my Chevy in a lot of good spots, and we went from the back to the front like we normally do.”
—Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
His team aimed to maintain a front-running position throughout the stage, showcasing the potential of the Duos Chevrolet. However, the accident prevented them from capitalizing on that speed and strategy.
Impact of the Crash and Outlook for Upcoming Races
The crash not only ended Stenhouse Jr.’s day at Daytona but also affected the broader race dynamics, given the intensity and number of cars involved in the incident. As the No. 47 team regroups following this setback, attention will turn to recovering both the vehicle and momentum for future events. Stenhouse Jr.’s measured reflections underscore a readiness to tackle upcoming challenges despite the disappointment at Daytona.
