Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet, is preparing to tackle two races during the upcoming Daytona 500 weekend, combining his Cup Series effort with a Truck Series appearance. This marks a significant return to the Truck Series for Stenhouse, who will compete alongside notable teammates and face off against a strong field of drivers at Daytona International Speedway.
Racing Alongside Tony Stewart Adds Excitement
Stenhouse expressed enthusiasm about sharing the track with NASCAR legend Tony Stewart. Reflecting on their history, he recalled his first Daytona 500 in 2012 when he unintentionally caused a crash involving Stewart in the tri-oval section. After Stewart announced his return to racing, Stenhouse reached out and offered to be a drafting partner, adding a personal connection to the weekend’s competition.
He highlighted the anticipation for the Truck race, pointing out the impressive mix of talent involved, including fellow Cup drivers and popular figures like Travis Pastrana and Cleetus McFarland, his teammates. Stenhouse said,
“I think the Truck race is going to be one of those that a lot of people are going to want to watch… Hopefully, we can keep our band of brothers up there up front along with Perez. Should be a good week.”
Building Relationships with Truck Series Teammates
Stenhouse talked about his growing connections with teammates Travis Pastrana and Cleetus McFarland. Having known Travis for a long time, they share a solid friendship, while Stenhouse praised Cleetus for his ARCA racing achievements and recent successful truck testing. He recognized the emotional significance of the weekend for Cleetus, referencing his close relationship with the late Greg.
“I’ve known Travis for a long time. He and I are good friends. Cleetus I’ve talked to a decent amount of times. Respect everything that he’s been able to do… I know this weekend means a lot to him with how tight him and Greg were, especially late in that. Yeah, it will be cool to be a teammate with him,”
Stenhouse said.
Memories of Greg and Early Lessons in Racing
Reflecting on his time as a teammate to the late Greg Biffle, Stenhouse shared how Greg’s passionate and animated descriptions of his race cars taught him valuable lessons. Sitting on Greg’s pit box during his Nationwide Series days, he absorbed insights from conversations between Greg and crew chief Greg Erwin, which helped him develop his ability to communicate effectively about his own cars.
“I just loved the way Greg talked about his race cars. It was very animated. You thought he was a little crazy. When he got to the end of what he was talking about, you knew exactly what his car was doing… I learned a lot from Greg,”
Stenhouse reflected.
Returning to Truck Series Racing After Long Anticipation
Stenhouse admitted that despite wanting to race in the Truck Series for some time, this would be his first Truck race. He described the preparation process with the Niece team, getting familiar with the trucks’ unique features like the extended nose and handling characteristics. Stenhouse anticipated participating in more Truck races throughout the season, excited at the opportunity to compete more frequently.
“It’s wild… Everybody at Niece builds great race trucks. Going there in the off-season has been fun, just figuring out everything that’s going on in the Truck Series… Looking forward to back-to-back starts, maybe a couple more throughout the season,”
he said.
Expectations for the Truck Night America Event
The Truck Night America race drew considerable anticipation from Stenhouse, who forecast a competitive and entertaining event. He pointed out that with a mix of Cup drivers, including Pastrana and McFarland, as well as talented full-time Truck Series competitors, fans could expect plenty of action and strategy. Stenhouse planned to use the first portion of the race to understand how drafting and pushing worked in the trucks.
“Everybody is going to be glued in watching. I mean, you got Pastrana, McFarland, then all the Cup guys… I think all of us will be, you know, trying to get to the front and see what happens. I’m going to use the first half of the race to figure out what these things do, how they draft, how they push,”
he explained.
Approach to Rivalries During Superspeedway Racing
When asked if he might use the Truck race to settle scores with other drivers, Stenhouse firmly dismissed this idea. He emphasized the unique dynamics of superspeedway racing, where personal grudges take a backseat to tactical driving and self-preservation.
“No, I would never settle a score in a superspeedway race… If it’s going to benefit you in a superspeedway race, you’ll definitely take the opportunity to take a run, no matter who it’s with. But it’s just going to be wild… It will be kind of cool to see how it all shakes out,”
he said.
Balancing Double Race Preparation Without Compromise
Stenhouse addressed concerns about managing preparation for two high-profile races in a short span. He dismissed the idea of any tradeoffs, instead viewing the extra seat time as an opportunity to get more comfortable behind the wheel and stay in rhythm throughout the demanding race week.
“No, I don’t think there’s any tradeoff. I’m excited to just race more… You qualify tonight. You run the Duel race on Thursday. You might practice Friday or Saturday, but probably not both. It will be nice to be in a race car, just get back behind the wheel, get in the flow,”
Stenhouse shared.
The Unique Energy of Daytona 500 Week
Describing the aura surrounding the Daytona 500, Stenhouse highlighted how the event captures nationwide attention similar to major sporting events like the Super Bowl. He enjoys the intense media schedule and fan engagement, noting the race’s consistent sellout streak and massive prize purse.
“I just love Daytona 500 week. After the Super Bowl on Sunday, it’s all about us… Every household in America is probably going to have a TV on and watching the race, right? It’s big numbers… We haven’t been doing a whole lot. You put this race in the three-quarter mark of the season, I might not like as much media as we have. But right now, at the time it’s fresh and kind of reviving,”
he described.
Stenhouse also enjoys the favorable weather, palm trees, and the ability to combine relaxation with racing activities, often bringing his family along when possible.
Motivation and Longevity in His Racing Career
At this stage in his career, Stenhouse remains driven by a passion for fitness, family, and continuing to prove himself on the track. He takes pride in staying physically fit and acknowledges a renewed sense of purpose after transitions in his racing journey, including his move from Roush to Hyak Motorsports.
“This is my 15th Daytona 500 Media Day, so… I think just keeping in shape and feeling young… I feel like I’m in really good shape that keeps me going. Also, kind of a point in my career where I feel like I’m blessed to continue to do what I do… I just still feel like I got a lot left to prove, a lot of things to accomplish,”
he said.
Among his personal goals is to win a race with his son present, emphasizing a long-term commitment to the sport.
Balancing Family Life with Racing Demands
Stenhouse spoke candidly about the challenges of leaving his family during race weekends but finds comfort in the overall balance his schedule offers. Racing primarily on weekends allows him to spend substantial time with his wife and son, often bringing them to events, which helps him stay connected despite time away.
“Leaving the family at home is tough, but also think about it in different ways… I don’t have to work Monday through Friday. I get to spend a massive amount of time with my family… When Stetson is a little bit older, it’s awesome when you get home because they watched you race… That makes it okay,”
Stenhouse explained.
Anticipating Performance with the New Chevrolet Body
Looking ahead to how the new Chevy race car will perform, Stenhouse expects improvements in the car’s pushing ability during races. While he has never had issues pushing or being pushed by Chevys before, he hopes the overall package will deliver faster lap times to better compete with Fords, which appear quick in qualifying.
“I think it’s going to be easier for the Chevys to push. I never felt like I had an issue pushing or being pushed by other Chevys… I mean, I think overall I just want it to be faster,”
he said.
Fitness and Training Outside the Track
In addition to his racing preparations, Stenhouse stays physically active and enjoys workouts that complement his on-track performance. While not exclusively following CrossFit, he appreciates the challenge and variety it offers, sometimes integrating it with his fitness routine.
“I love watching it. If it’s a workout where I’m like, okay… they had the alternating snatches, burpee over the box… I can do 50-pound dumbbell snatches all day long. I got to do exactly what they were doing. I love that,”
he shared.
Looking Ahead to Race Weekend and Beyond
As Daytona 500 weekend approaches, Stenhouse is energized by the prospect of competing in both the Truck and Cup Series events, aiming to capitalize on the extra race experience while fostering strong teamwork with Pastrana, McFarland, and others. With a rich career history and motivated mindset, he is poised to make the most of this dynamic week at Daytona.
His commitment to growth, family balance, and competitive excellence ensures that fans will have much to watch for as the season unfolds, with Stenhouse determined to build on his successes and overcome new challenges.
