Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is set to make his NASCAR Truck Series debut on Friday, February 13, at Daytona International Speedway. Driving the No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Niece Motorsports, Stenhouse will also compete in the following race at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta as part of a part-time schedule.
Details of Stenhouse’s Role with Niece Motorsports and Other Drivers’ Duties
Niece Motorsports announced that Stenhouse will pilot the team’s truck for the first two events of the season, after which Landen Lewis and Ross Chastain will take over driving responsibilities for the remainder of the year. The move marks a new chapter for Stenhouse, who has never raced in the Truck Series before.
“I’ve always wanted to run a truck, but never had the opportunity to put something together,”
Stenhouse said.
“When [Niece CEO] Cody [Efaw] 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. 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 of those boxes.”
Stenhouse’s Racing Experience and Career Highlights
At 38 years old, Stenhouse brings extensive experience to the Truck Series, having made nearly 600 starts across the NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. He has achieved 12 total victories and earned two O’Reilly Auto Parts championships. His four Cup Series wins have all come on superspeedways, highlighting his strength on fast, high-banked tracks.
Comments from Niece Motorsports CEO on Stenhouse’s Addition
“We are all very excited to welcome Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to our team for his first time racing in the Truck Series,”
said Cody Efaw, CEO of Niece Motorsports.
“I’ve known Ricky for several years now dating back to our time at Roush [now RFK Racing], and he’s always been a natural on superspeedways. I believe he will have a true shot at contending for the win at both Daytona and Atlanta.”
Outlook for Stenhouse’s 2026 Season and Expectations
The 2026 NASCAR season will mark Stenhouse’s 14th in the Cup Series and his seventh driving the No. 47 Chevrolet. After a difficult 2025 season in which he finished 30th in the points standings, Stenhouse and his team, Hyak Motorsports, are eager for a rebound. His entry into the Truck Series at high-profile locations like Daytona and Atlanta is expected to provide fresh momentum.
Adding another chapter to his story.
Welcome to Niece Motorsports, @StenhouseJr.#PressTheAttack | #TeamChevy pic.twitter.com/fvPlRCyWZu
— Niece Motorsports (@NieceMotorsport) January 14, 2026
