Nice Motorsports has confirmed that Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will be behind the wheel of the No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway. Stenhouse, a seasoned NASCAR Cup Series driver with over 400 starts and four victories—most notably his 2017 summer Daytona win and his 2023 Daytona 500 triumph—is set to make his debut in the Truck Series despite his extensive racing career.
The 38-year-old, originally from Olive Branch, Mississippi, also boasts a successful history in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, where he secured consecutive championships in 2011 and 2012. Despite nearly 600 combined starts across the top two NASCAR divisions, Stenhouse has never competed in the Truck Series before.
“I’ve always wanted to race in a truck but never had the opportunity to be part of a competitive effort,” Stenhouse Jr. said. “When Cody Efaw reached out, I was eager to see what Nice Motorsports has built, especially given the high level of competition. Since it’s at Daytona, where I’ve enjoyed past success, winning a Truck Series race there would be fantastic. This opportunity ticks all the boxes for me.”
JF Electric is sponsoring Stenhouse’s entry, and plans are also in place for him to compete in the series’ second race of the year at Echo Park Speedway in Atlanta, which is another track known for drafting.
Cody Efaw, CEO of Nice Motorsports, expressed enthusiasm about bringing Stenhouse onto the team: “I’ve known Ricky for years, back to his days with Roush Fenway Racing, and he’s always been a strong competitor on superspeedways. I’m confident he has a real shot at contending for wins at both Daytona and Atlanta.”
Fan Take: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s move into the Truck Series is an exciting development, showing his versatility and passion for NASCAR across all formats. For fans, this adds another layer of intrigue to the season opener and signals fresh competition that could shake up the Truck Series landscape.
