NASCAR: We finally have a silly season confirmation for 2023

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s confirmation at JTG Daugherty Racing for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season is one of very few deals to be announced so far this year.

On Friday, JTG Daugherty Racing, which downsized from two cars to one for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, confirmed that Ricky Stenhouse Jr. isn’t going anywhere.

The team confirmed that the 34-year-old Olive Branch, Mississippi native is set to return to the team as the driver of the #47 Chevrolet next year, and he is set to do so on a new multi-year deal.

Stenhouse has been with the team since the 2020 season.

Stenhouse is just the third driver to sign a new contract this year, and the first two drivers also signed extensions to remain with their current team.

Both drivers compete for Hendrick Motorsports, and both were expected to sign new deals. Before the 2022 season began, Chase Elliott signed a new deal to continue driving the #9 Chevrolet through the 2027 season. Elliott had been under contract through the 2022 season since signing an extension in June 2017.

Then a few weeks after becoming the 2022 season’s first repeat winner, William Byron signed a new deal to continue driving the #24 Chevrolet through the 2025 season. Byron had been under contract through the 2022 season since September 2020.

Hendrick’s team is set up to do something similar next year, when Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman are slated to be in contract years.

As for JTG Daugherty Racing, there were doubts earlier this season that they would even continue competing in the Cup Series next year, following a rough start by Stenhouse that saw him record just one top 20 finish in the first 10 races.

But after he reeled off four straight top eight finishes, including a season-high second place finish at Dover Motor Speedway, a new deal was seen as a formality.

Stenhouse is seeking his first win since he won at Daytona International Speedway in July 2017 for Roush Fenway Racing. JTG Daugherty Racing are seeking their first win since A.J. Allmendinger won at Watkins Glen International in August 2014.

As for actual driver changes, the only confirmation thus far came from Stewart-Haas Racing. Aric Almirola announced before the 2022 season began that he will be retiring at the end of it, meaning the team will need to replace him behind the wheel of the #10 Ford.

While that much has been confirmed, they have not yet announced a replacement, so in terms of an actual lineup change, we have still yet to hear one formally announced for 2023.