JTG Daugherty Racing Potentially Bringing In New NASCAR Partner Amidst Worsening Charter Deal

NASCAR is a tough battleground, especially for single-charter teams. Just look at the struggles of Rick Ware Racing, Wood Brothers Racing, and JTG Daugherty Racing this season. While both RWR and JTGD failed to make the playoffs, Harrison Burton’s surprise Daytona win briefly gave WBR a shot. But in the end, Burton couldn’t survive past the first round of the playoffs.

Now, in the heat of NASCAR’s silly season, these teams are making bold moves to stay competitive. Rick Ware Racing is bringing in Corey LaJoie, swapping Justin Haley with Spire Motorsports. LaJoie’s experience in helping smaller teams grow, backed by loyal sponsors, makes him a promising addition. Meanwhile, Wood Brothers Racing is placing their legendary No. 21 car in the hands of Josh Berry for 2025. Even JTG Daughterty Racing could be making waves with a new sponsor to keep their playoff dreams alive.

Previously this year, it was rumored that JTG Daugherty might not be competing in the 2025 Cup Series. The team is owned by Tad Geshickter alongside his wife Jodi (both names forming the name JTG). Along with former NBA basketball player, the team is owned by Tad Geshickter alongside his wife Jodi (both names forming the name JTG).  and current NASCAR broadcaster Brad Daugherty. The ownership lineup also includes businessman Gordon Smith. The rumor came after; it was suspected that Geshickter was moving to a new team. He owns a sponsorship managing agency called Brand Activation Maximizer, which is also partnered with Joe Gibbs Racing.

NASCAR skeptics believed that he was moving to JGR along with JTGD’s big-time sponsor, Kroger. The multi-billion dollar grocery chain has close ties with Geshickter. Kroger and JTG started their partnership in 2010 and have been together ever since. However, lately, it was also rumored that Kroger is shifting to RFK Racing, aiding them to buy their hopeful third charter. Regardless, Kroger’s move to a different team would be detrimental for JTG Daugherty.

However, some reports have also revealed a new sponsor to have jumped on with the #48 ride for some part of the 2025 season. A brand called “Zero Cows,” which specializes in alternative milk options, has made the recent announcement. The Brands CEO, Kevin Kukk, took to LinkedIn to write, “NASCAR is as good as it get’s driving brand and product. The #1 sports marketing accelerator meets the #1 milk alternative. Nothing is better. Join the #47 car, ZERO COWSTM Racing (ZCR) in 2025 as we go full throttle! www.zerocows.com.”

The #47 car is currently owned by JTG Daugherty and is driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. However, it is not yet confirmed if the charter is with the team or has been sold to some other team. The general practice by teams, when they get a new sponsor, is to release an announcement to keep fans and stakeholders pleased. However, the team as of now has not made any. This has left many wondering about their 2025 Cup Series plans. However, recently, a NASCAR insider hinted at some positive news for the team.

JTG Daugherty’s future in NASCAR

The team was founded in 1995 by Tad Geshickter, and it made its Xfinity debut with Jeff Fuller in 1995. Fuller won the team’s first Xfinity race in 1996 at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Post this, the team never won an Xfinity race until its last season in 2008, when Marcos Ambrose prevailed and took the chequered flag at Watkins Glen. In their decade-long campaign in Xfinity, they used 23 drivers before making a switch to Cup in 2009 with Ambrose. After several years as a two-car team featuring AJ Allmendinger, Chris Buescher, Ryan Preece, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., it downsized to one car in 2022.

The one-driver gamble worked with Stenhouse Jr. after he won the 2023 Daytona 500. However, since then, the team has remained winless and struggling. In 2024, Jr. has only managed two top-5s and has an average finish of 22.34 so far. The poor stats are probably why maybe Koger is thinking of exiting the team. However, co-owner Gordon Smith, who took the owner stake in 2016, has come to the rescue!

FOX Sports’s Bob Pockrass took to X and wrote, “I went by the JTG shop in May, and from the work/apparent investment being done there by Gordon Smith (who was quoted in the Stenhouse contract extension news release as the team owner), I expect them to continue on regardless of what happens with Kroger.”

So hopefully their boat is saved from sinking, and they get another season in NASCAR. What do you think is going to happen with the team?