Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is preparing to compete in the first two races of the Craftsman Truck Series season at Daytona International Speedway, marking his debut in this series. Driving the No. 45 Chevrolet for Niece Motorsports, Stenhouse aims to bring his NASCAR experience into a fresh racing arena.
Following his initial appearances, Stenhouse will hand over the driving duties for the No. 45 truck to Landon Lewis and Ross Chastain for the remainder of the campaign. This rotation allows Niece Motorsports to leverage multiple talents throughout the season as they seek strong finishes.
Stenhouse reflected on his decision to enter the Truck Series, stating,
“I’ve always wanted to run a truck, but never had the opportunity to put something together,”
emphasizing a longtime interest finally realized.
He added,
“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,”
showing his confidence in the team’s potential.
After many years observing the Truck Series, this partnership with Niece Motorsports presented a rare chance for Stenhouse to join a competitive team, blending his ambition with a realistic shot at success. He noted,
“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.”
Track Record and Recent Performances Leading to This Opportunity
Currently, Stenhouse competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series with Hyak Motorsports and secured notable victories in 2023, including the prestigious Daytona 500 and a summer race at Daytona. Despite his extensive experience in national NASCAR events since 2009, the Truck Series has remained uncharted territory until now.
He has only raced outside the Cup Series briefly in the past decade, making this Truck Series debut a significant development in his diverse racing career. The move highlights his determination to expand his skill set while maintaining a competitive edge in high-profile events.
Reflecting on NASCAR’s Recent Losses and Season Outlook
Stenhouse recently spoke about the emotional toll taken by the NASCAR community following the deaths of Greg Biffle and Dennis Hamlin, father of driver Denny Hamlin. He described the sport’s close-knit nature, explaining,
“Yeah, NASCAR and motorsports in general is, you could say big, but it’s a small family.”
He expressed how these losses have deeply affected everyone involved, saying,
“It’s a massive footprint, but everybody’s really integrated, really close, and everybody feels that no matter what happens.”
Sharing his sentiments on the offseason atmosphere, Stenhouse added,
“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.”
Looking Ahead to a Competitive Season in Multiple Series
With a focused mindset, Stenhouse is eager to improve on last year’s NASCAR Cup Series performance, which included one top-five and three top-10 finishes. His upcoming Cup Series season will also begin at Daytona, setting the stage for a busy and ambitious year across both Cup and Truck Series platforms.
This fresh Truck Series debut not only adds a new dimension to Stenhouse’s career but also boosts Niece Motorsports’ competitiveness in the series. Fans and teams alike will be watching closely as he balances his commitments and aims to secure victories on multiple fronts.
