Editor’s Note: Today’s JTG Daugherty Racing preview continues NASCAR.com’s countdown of team previews for the 2024 Cup Series season.
JTG DAUGHERTY RACING
Manufacturer: Chevrolet
Engine: Hendrick Motorsports
Driver-crew chief pairing: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.-Mike Kelley
Team outlook: JTG Daugherty Racing made the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs for the second time in team history last year. Thanks to Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s season-opening victory in the Daytona 500, the organization secured a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2014 when AJ Allmendinger won at Watkins Glen. The “Great American Race” win allowed the No. 47 team to go the rest of the regular season focused on playoff preparation. A 16th-place finish in the final standings exceeded expectations and with the pairing of Stenhouse and crew chief Mike Kelley returning, they will certainly hope to make the Cup Series Playoffs in back-to-back seasons.
RELATED: Stenhouse still savoring Daytona 500 reign, targets repeat
RICKY STENHOUSE JR., NO. 47 CHEVROLET
Experience: 12 full-time seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series
2023 stats: 16th in final standings (made second career playoff appearance); 1 win, 2 top fives, 9 top 10s
2024 championship odds (DraftKings): 150-1
Outlook: Heading into 2024, Stenhouse will look to improve on the previous season that saw the driver of the No. 47 Chevrolet get one win, including a pair of top fives and nine top 10s. For JTG Daugherty Racing, making the Cup Series Playoffs after a nine-year postseason drought was a huge victory for this squad. Winning the Daytona 500 at the beginning of 2023 was the cherry on top. However, a first-round exit in the Round of 16 will leave them hungry for more this year. If the No. 47 team makes the playoffs in 2024 and wants to get past the first round, Stenhouse must pick up more top fives and top 10s than last year.
The 36-year-old native of Olive Branch, Mississippi has three career Cup Series wins, which all came on superspeedways at Daytona and Talladega. It would not be surprising to see Stenhouse win at those tracks again given his strong superspeedway racing record. He ended the final 10 races of the 2023 season with only two top 10s and six finishes of 20th or worse. Looking ahead, a reasonable goal for 2024 would be to build off last year and search for more consistency.
NASCAR.com 2024 team previews schedule
Jan. 15: Legacy Motor Club
Jan. 16: Spire Motorsports
Jan. 17: Kaulig Racing
Jan. 18: Wood Brothers Racing
Jan. 22: Rick Ware Racing
Jan. 23: Richard Childress Racing
Jan. 24: Stewart-Haas Racing
Jan. 25: Front Row Motorsports
Jan. 26: JTG Daugherty Racing
Jan. 29: Trackhouse Racing
Jan. 30: RFK Racing
Feb. 6: 23XI Racing
Feb. 7: Joe Gibbs Racing
Feb. 8: Hendrick Motorsports
Feb. 9: Team Penske
2024 season preview: JTG Daugherty Racing
Chris Graythen | Getty Images