Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s journey in the NASCAR Cup Series has been filled with both triumphs and challenges
From his Daytona 500 win in 2023 to his struggles with consistency in 2024, his career is a testament to the unpredictable nature of the sport.
Whether he can overcome these hurdles and reestablish himself as a top contender remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—he is not backing down from the challenge.
While a 20th-place finish may not be the most eye-catching result, Stenhouse Jr.’s performance at Martinsville was a testament to perseverance.
Overcoming a tough qualifying run to gain 14 positions by the end of the race highlights his resilience. If he and his team can address their qualifying struggles and build on their late-race speed, they may find themselves battling further up the order in the near future.
For now, Stenhouse Jr. will take the positives from Martinsville and focus on making improvements for the road ahead.
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Table of Contents
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s Battle at Martinsville
Struggles in Qualifying: A Tough Start to the Weekend
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. entered the Cookout 400 at Martinsville Motor Speedway with high hopes, but the weekend did not begin as planned.1
The Hyak Motorsports driver struggled in qualifying, landing himself among the backmarkers in 34th position.
Qualifying at Martinsville, a short track with tight corners, is crucial, as track position plays a significant role in determining race outcomes.
Starting so far back meant Stenhouse Jr. had an uphill battle ahead of him before the green flag even dropped.
Not a great weekend for us speed wise, but we found the handling the last run and ran up to P20. See y’all at Darlington! pic.twitter.com/MxtVQZBIr0
— Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (@StenhouseJr) April 1, 2025
Holding Position in the Early Stages
Despite his hopes of making up positions quickly, Stenhouse Jr. found himself stuck in traffic for much of the race’s first two stages.
He struggled to gain momentum and remained in 34th place, unable to carve his way through the field. Martinsville’s close-quarters racing makes passing difficult, especially for drivers who do not have dominant speed.
The lack of forward progress was frustrating for Stenhouse Jr., but he remained patient, knowing that the final stage would provide another opportunity to gain ground.
Late-Race Charge: Climbing Through the Field
Although his race started on a difficult note, Stenhouse Jr. managed to find some rhythm as the laps wound down.
In the third stage, he was able to capitalize on long green-flag runs, tire wear, and strategic pit stops to make up positions.
By the time the checkered flag flew, he had climbed 14 spots from his starting position, finishing in 20th place.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr: Finding the Silver Lining in the Performance
Despite the frustrating start to the weekend, finishing 20th was a small victory for Stenhouse Jr. and his team.2
His ability to gain positions in the final stage showcased resilience and determination.
In a post-race reflection on Instagram, Stenhouse Jr. shared his thoughts about the weekend, acknowledging both the struggles and the positives that could be taken away from the race.
Consistency at Martinsville: A Pattern Emerging
Interestingly, Stenhouse Jr.’s performance at Martinsville in the Cookout 400 mirrors his previous runs at the track. In November 2024, he finished in the same 20th position during the Xfinity 500.
His track record at Martinsville in the Next Gen era has been relatively consistent, with an average finish of 20.7 over seven starts.
Assessing the 2025 Season So Far
With seven races completed in the 2025 NASCAR season, Stenhouse Jr. has secured five top-twenty finishes, demonstrating a level of consistency that could prove beneficial later in the year.
While he has not yet cracked the top ten, his ability to stay competitive suggests that his team is making incremental improvements.
If they can build on their late-race pace at Martinsville, they may find better finishes in the coming weeks.
Challenges Facing the #47 Team
While there are positives to take away, there are also challenges that need to be addressed. Stenhouse Jr.’s struggles in qualifying have been a recurring issue, often placing him at a disadvantage before the race even begins.
If the team can improve their one-lap speed, they will be in a much better position to fight for top-fifteen or even top-ten finishes rather than having to work their way up from the back.
As the NASCAR season progresses, Stenhouse Jr. and his team will be looking to build on their momentum.
The next few races on the schedule will be crucial in determining how competitive they can be moving forward.
With tracks like Bristol and Richmond coming up, both of which require strong short-track performances, it will be interesting to see if Stenhouse Jr. can take lessons from Martinsville and apply them to future races.
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Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Opens Up About Team’s Struggles in the Cup Series
Twelve seasons into his NASCAR Cup Series career, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has experienced both highs and lows.3
Currently driving the No. 47 Chevrolet, Stenhouse Jr. is in his sixth season with Hyak Racing, formerly JTG Daugherty Racing.
Over the years, he has established himself as a talented yet unpredictable driver, known for his aggressive racing style and ability to capitalize on superspeedway opportunities.
The 2023 season started on a high note for Stenhouse Jr. when he clinched victory at the Daytona 500, marking his first win since 2017. The triumph set the tone for what initially seemed like a strong championship run.
2024: A Season of Highs and Lows
Throughout the season, he managed to secure two top-five finishes and nine top-ten finishes, showing remarkable consistency. However, his championship aspirations were cut short when he was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs following a superspeedway crash.
Stenhouse Jr.’s performance in 2024 was anything but stable. He recorded three top-five finishes, including a spectacular win at Talladega Superspeedway, proving his expertise on superspeedways.
However, the season was marred by seven DNFs (Did Not Finish), leading to an overall ranking of 25th in the final standings. The inconsistency in his results left both the driver and his team searching for answers.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: Reflects on His Performance
During an appearance on the “Gypsy Tales Podcast,” uploaded on March 11, 2025, Stenhouse Jr. reflected on the past two seasons.
He openly discussed the unpredictable nature of his results, stating:
“2023 we had a great season, we averaged like a 14th place finish throughout the whole season and then 2024 we averaged a 24th place finish. It’s like seasons just change and you know it’s like I didn’t feel like we did anything different, but we didn’t get the good results that we had the year before. So then you know we’re kind of scratching our head and kind of restarting for 2025.”
His candid remarks highlight the challenges drivers face when they experience fluctuating performances despite maintaining similar approaches year after year.
A Glimpse of Hope in 2025
The 2025 season has seen a mix of performances from Stenhouse Jr., with his best result coming at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
In a race that featured 11 caution periods and 50 lead changes among 63 drivers, he showcased his resilience by climbing from a 34th-place qualification to an impressive fifth-place finish.
This performance marked his only top-ten finish of the season so far, reinforcing his ability to deliver when the circumstances align in his favor.
The Role of Hyak Racing in Stenhouse Jr.’s Journey
Hyak Racing, formerly JTG Daugherty Racing, has been the backbone of Stenhouse Jr.’s Cup Series journey since he joined them in 2020.
The team has provided him with the necessary support, but their struggles with consistency have also been apparent.
The transition from JTG Daugherty Racing to Hyak Racing introduced changes in team management, sponsorships, and technical partnerships, which could have played a role in the fluctuating results over the past few seasons.
Superspeedway Strengths and Shortcomings
One of Stenhouse Jr.’s most defining traits as a driver is his ability to excel on superspeedways. His victories at Daytona and Talladega have reinforced his reputation as a skilled restrictor-plate racer.
However, his performance on intermediate and short tracks has been less consistent. The challenge for Stenhouse Jr. and his team remains in translating their superspeedway success into better performances across different types of tracks.
The seven DNFs in 2024 significantly hindered his chances of finishing higher in the standings.
Whether due to crashes, mechanical failures, or strategic missteps, failing to complete races takes a toll on any driver’s championship hopes. Minimizing DNFs will be a crucial factor in his pursuit of better results in 2025.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: Challenges of NASCAR
Competing in the NASCAR Cup Series is not just a test of driving skill but also a mental and physical endurance challenge.
Stenhouse Jr. has spoken about the psychological pressure of maintaining high performance and dealing with setbacks.
Unlike other sports where players can recover between matches, NASCAR drivers must bounce back immediately, often racing on consecutive weekends with little time to reflect or make major adjustments.
Currently ranked 20th in the standings with 146 points, Stenhouse Jr. is preparing for the upcoming race at Darlington Raceway.
Known as “The Track Too Tough to Tame,” Darlington presents a unique challenge with its abrasive surface and tricky turns. A strong finish here could help him regain momentum and climb the points table.
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Strategies for Improvement
If Stenhouse Jr. and his team want to improve their results in 2025, they need to focus on several key areas:
1. Minimizing DNFs
- Identifying patterns in past DNFs and addressing potential causes, whether mechanical, strategic, or driver-related.
2. Enhancing Performance on Non-Superspeedway Tracks
- Finding ways to be more competitive on intermediate and short tracks will be crucial in accumulating more consistent points.
3. Refining Race Strategies
- Better pit strategies, fuel management, and tire conservation could help him secure better finishes.
4. Building Team Chemistry
- Strengthening the relationship between Stenhouse Jr. and his crew chief, engineers, and pit crew could lead to more cohesive decision-making during races.
The unpredictability of NASCAR means that fortunes can change quickly. Stenhouse Jr. has shown he can compete with the best, especially on superspeedways, but consistency remains his biggest challenge.
If he and his team can identify the root causes of their struggles and implement necessary adjustments, a return to a more competitive standing is possible.
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