October 16, 2019 | By Lee Spencer

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. rolls on with JTG Daugherty Racing in 2020

JTG Daugherty Racing will welcome veteran Ricky Stenhouse Jr., to their two-car stable for 2020—and beyond.

The 32-year-old driver from Olive Branch, Miss. signed a multi-year deal to drive the No. 37 Chevrolet for JTGD. The former Xfinity Series champion will pair with Ryan Preece starting with the 2020 Daytona 500.

“We’re very fortunate to have Ricky join us next season to continue to elevate our racing program at JTG Daugherty Racing,” said team owner Tad Geschickter. “Ricky brings a lot of experience and talent to the team, and we know we can have two Playoff-contending teams next season with him and Ryan Preece at the helm of our cars.”

Over the last decade, Stenhouse Jr. came through the ranks at Roush Fenway Racing and Ford Performance. He replaces Chris Buescher—another RFR development driver—who is returning to Roush at the end of this year.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to join JTG Daugherty Racing next season,” Stenhouse Jr. said. “To be able to see what Tad, Jodi (Geschickter) and Brad (Daugherty) have built over the years says a lot about the team and the organization both on and off the track.

“JTG has grown from a small team in a barn to a two-car team with more than 100 employees, and I’m looking forward to joining the family. I’m grateful for the opportunity and ready to go win races with the ultimate goal of making the Playoffs and competing for a championship.”

In his second full season with Roush in the NXS tour, Stenhouse won the first of two Xfinity titles. Stenhouse graduated to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup tour in 2013, where he won rookie honors. Stenhouse won his first of two Cup races in 2017 to qualify for the Playoffs. In 251 Cup starts, he has two poles 15 top fives and 34 top 10s.

Stenhouse is currently 21st in the Cup standings. His best result of the season was fifth in the Coca-Cola 600. He finished ninth at Talladega on Sunday--his eighth top-10 result in 13 starts at the 2.66-mile superspeedway.

Stenhouse is still searching for his first top-10 finish at Kansas Speedway, the next stop on the Cup tour. In 13 starts, his best finish is 11th—four times.