NASCAR: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to leave Roush Fenway Racing after 2019

Despite saying he had a contract with the team through the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will not return to Roush Fenway Racing next year.

Just under two months ago, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. confirmed that he would be returning to Roush Fenway Racing for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season and that his contract with the team lasts through the 2021 season.

But now Roush Fenway Racing have announced that they and Stenhouse will be parting ways once the 2019 season comes to an end.

Here is what team co-owner Jack Roush had to say about the matter, according to NASCAR.

"“We can’t say enough about Ricky and his contributions to Roush Fenway Racing. We’re proud to have been a part of Ricky’s development from ARCA to Xfinity and ultimately the Cup Series. He has served as a great representative to our partners, while helping to accumulate numerous accolades, wins and multiple championships on the racetrack. We wish him well as he enters the next chapter of his career.”"

This news comes just days after Stenhouse, who did not qualify for the Cup Series playoffs for the sixth time in his seven seasons as a full-time driver in the series, spun out race leader Martin Truex Jr. in the playoff race at Richmond Raceway while running a lap off the lead lap.

More from NASCAR Cup Series

Stenhouse has driven for Roush Fenway Racing throughout his entire full-time NASCAR career. He drove for the team from the 2010 season through the 2012 season in the Xfinity Series before landing a ride with them in the Cup Series in the 2013 season, where he has driven ever since. He even drove for the team in the 2008 ARCA Re/Max Series season.

The 31-year-old Olive Branch, Mississippi was promoted to the Cup Series after winning the 2011 and 2012 Xfinity Series championships on the strength of a combined eight victories.

In his Cup Series career, Stenhouse has driven in 248 races, including 247 for Roush Fenway Racing and 243 as a full-time driver. He has earned two victories, both restrictor plate race victories the 2017 season, and recorded 33 top 10 finishes, of which 15 are top five finishes. He has also taken two pole positions.

Stenhouse has led 308 of the 68,505 laps that he has completed. His career average starting position is 18.2 and his career average finishing position is 20.4.

This season, Stenhouse sits in 23rd place in the championship standings with two top 10 finishes in the season’s first 28 races, including one top five finish. He has led 75 of the 7,426 laps he has completed and recorded an average starting position of 14.4 and an average finishing position of 20.9, marking the largest drop-off between the two averages among all full-time drivers.

Next. Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time. dark

There are eight races remaining on the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series schedule before Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will no longer be the driver of the #17 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, the first of which being this Sunday afternoon’s race, the Bank of America Roval 400, at the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval, which is set to be broadcast live on NBC beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Home/NASCAR Cup Series