(Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
By Adam Carabine & Logan Morris
This year, in preparation for the 2024 NASCAR season, we present our Team Previews Series. Each day until the end of January, a new Team Preview will be live on our website. Check back every day to see what we have to say about your favourite team!
Adam Carabine: Let’s get back into it. Our Team Preview series resumes with another one-car team - JTG Daugherty. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. returns to the fold for another season, and looks to follow up his Daytona 500 win with another one in 2024. Will we see him go back-to-back, Logan?
Logan Morris: I’m going to say no. Could he? Sure, it’s Daytona, and Stenhouse has never seen a risk not worth taking. However, when you’re a one-car team you don’t have any real friends out there, and that makes a massive difference. Cindric likely doesn’t win in 2022 without Blaney for example.
AC: Fair enough. I didn’t necessarily think he would either, but I thought I’d ask. Because of his win last year, Stenhouse also punched his card to the playoffs. Without the “win and you’re in” system, Stenhouse wouldn’t have come close to the Top 16 in points. Does he have any other opportunity to win his way in? And if not, is there any hope of him pointing his way in?
LM: Atlanta, Talladega, and the summer Daytona race are always possibilities. He’s also shown potential at tracks like Bristol. With that being said, I’m going to say he doesn’t win this season and doesn’t make the playoffs. If for no other reason than for other teams to take a step forward that means others have to take a step back and sadly I think JTG is a victim of that.
AC: I like Stenhouse as a human being, but I’m afraid I agree. JTG hasn’t always brought the best equipment to the track, and with no real big sponsorship news, that doesn’t look like it’s going to improve this year. If you’re not consistently improving, you’re falling back, because everyone around you is. So if there are no playoffs for him this year, what constitutes a successful season for Stenhouse?
LM: I’ve said this for a few teams, but 25th or better in the final standings feels like a realistic/fair goal. As you said without the win at Daytona, 2023 left plenty to be desired so in some ways it would be an improvement.
AC: I don’t have a fancy name for hot takes like “Loganity,” but I’m going to be bold and say Stenhouse finishes outside of the Top 30 this year. I don’t have any real reason for thinking so other than trusting my gut, but something tells me it will be a bad season for JTG Daugherty this year. It really does feel like they’re being left behind as other teams take big strides. How long do you think the team sticks around?
LM: That’s a fair question. Assuming charters are in the sport for the foreseeable future, you do have to wonder if JTG Daugherty could get an offer they can’t refuse. We know several teams are looking to acquire a charter and we know one Hall of Fame driver looking to break into the Cup Series as an owner. Pressure is mounting for teams like JTG Daugherty to succeed.
AC: It will be interesting to see if Ricky Stenhouse Jr. can rise to the occasion or if he’ll crumble under that pressure. The fate of JTG could rest in his hands.
Stay tuned to our Team Preview series - tomorrow we take a look at Kaulig Racing!
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