JTG Daugherty Racing undergoes 'immediate' shift amid $42B-worth sponsor's exit
JTG Daugherty Racing came under the limelight following their sponsor Kroger's move to Brad Keselowski's RFK Racing. But the team gained attention for another reason, the rebranding to Hyak Motorsports.
The NASCAR silly season witnessed a big shake-up in Tad and Jodi Geschickter's Cup Series team. As SHR's former driver Ryan Preece was announced as the third driver for RFK Racing starting in 2025, JTG Daugherty's $42 billion sponsor Kroger (as per Forbes) terminated their 15-year-long relationship with the team for Keselowski's venture.
Moreover, the notion of the Harrisburg, North Carolina-based team being renamed Hyak Motorsports gained traction even though it wasn't confirmed. Hyak Maritime owner Gordon Smith assumed the role of principal owner at the end of the 2023 season and a rebadging of the team was in talks.
NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass shared today that JTG Daugherty Racing has been officially renamed Hyak Motorsports. While the co-owners Brad Daugherty, Mark Hughes, and Ernie Cope will remain 'dedicated' to the newly-named team's high standards, the principal ownership structure has changed.
"Effective immediately, the team will shift from JTG Racing to Hyak Motorsports with Gordon Smith, who became the principal owner at the end of the 2023 season, at the helm," an excerpt of Hyak Motorsports' release read via Bob Pockrass.
Hyak, in trading terms, means fast. Brad Daugherty expressed that the name change indicated their zeal to be the best, meaning fast on the asphalt.
"Just a continuation of building its legacy": Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on JTG Daugherty Racing's name change
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. entered the Harrisburg-based outfit for the 2020 Cup Series campaign and has been with the team since. The #47 Chevy driver has four Premier Level wins registered to his name, two of which he earned in 2017 for Roush Fenway Racing and two for JTG in 2023 and 2024.
JTG Daugherty Racing has three wins to date. The first was collected by AJ Allmendinger in 2014, at Watkins Glen International. Stenhouse Jr. brought the next two victories, and that too, from superspeedways. The Chevy driver etched his first win on the team at the 2023 Daytona 500 and the most recent was the 2024 YellaWood 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway.
Amid the rebranding, Stenhouse Jr. expressed his excitement and emphasized that it's a continuation of the legacy. He said (via Jayski).
“This rebrand is exciting for the team and myself,” said Stenhouse. “I’m excited for everyone to see the rebrand this offseason and in 2025. The team has won the most iconic of races with the Daytona 500 so this is just a continuation of building its legacy.”
JTG Daugherty's rebadged team will kick off its first NASCAR battle in the preseason clash hosted by Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.