NASCAR: Another open seat filled for 2022 season

JTG Daugherty Racing had previously confirmed plans to downsize for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season. Now they have confirmed their driver.

While JTG Daugherty Racing entered the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season with the same two-driver lineup they fielded in 2020, they did so with just one chartered entry as opposed to two.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. returned for a second year behind the wheel of the #47 Chevrolet, and Ryan Preece returned for a third season with the team and second behind the wheel of the #37 Chevrolet.

However, the charter that had been used to run the #37 Chevrolet for Preece was sold to Spire Motorsports before the 2021 season.

There were doubts that Preece would be able to run the full 36-race season this year, but he has completed in all 30 races thus far, and there are no plans not to field the #37 Chevrolet in the remaining six races on the schedule.

But over the summer, the team confirmed that they would be dropping their non-chartered entry and operating only as a one-car team starting next year, leaving Preece without a ride.

The last time JTG Daugherty Racing operated as just a one-car team was in 2016 when A.J. Allmendinger drove the #47 Chevrolet.

Now the expected has been confirmed: Stenhouse is set to return for a third year behind the wheel of the chartered #47 Chevrolet.

Here is what Stenhouse had to say about the opportunity to return to JTG Daugherty Racing for a third season next year.

"“I’m just looking forward to a third season with the team. I felt like this year was kind of like the first year with the organization with the way last year went and the way it was kind of thrown on us, not being able to hang out with the guys, be at the shop and really spend time with each. Now I’m really enjoying (it).”"

Here is what he had to add about the fact that the 2022 season will be his first ever Cup Series season without a teammate.

"“I definitely think it could be a negative on one hand and a positive on the other. When you’re practicing and testing and can have more ideas and run different things through both cars, it definitely speeds the process up. But we would also have to share the seat when it comes to testing. I feel like what I look for in a race car and what somebody else looks for in a race car and the way they drive is sometimes totally different. So, I feel like we’re going to be able to build the car around me.”"

The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season is scheduled to get underway with the 64th annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, February 20.