NASCAR Insider Discloses Ricky Stenhouse Jr’s ‘Specialization’ Behind Surviving Next-Gen Era’s Struggles

66 lead changes between 24 drivers. Yet, it all boiled down to a mere 0.006 seconds. Ricky Stenhouse Jr did it again on a drafting track. The newly minted 37-year-old gifted himself and his family the best post-birthday gift ever in the Victory Lane at Talladega this Sunday. It’s been a long time coming for someone who’s often distastefully dubbed ‘Wrecky Spinhouse’ by his critics, thanks to his tenacity to get tangled in some spectacular crashes.

But at the 2024 YellaWood 500, Stenhouse avoided the most spectacular one of them all. 28 cars involved – that’s an official record for the largest multi-car crash in NASCAR history. Sure, luck may have played some part in helping push the #47 JTG Daugherty Chevy past the finish line. But as Jordan Bianchi points out, there’s far more than just luck behind Stenhouse’s growing reputation as a superspeedway specialist.’

From “Wrecky Spinhouse” to superspeedway specialist

Ricky Stenhouse Jr has 4 race wins in the highest tier of NASCAR. And all of those wins, quite coincidentally, have come on a superspeedway. The first two transpired in 2017 when the Mississippi native was still a full-time driver for the #17 team at Roush Fenway Racing. But what’s strange is that Stenhouse won both those races somewhat similarly. At the 2017 GEICO 500, a 30-year-old Stenhouse edged out Jamie McMurray in overtime for his first-ever Cup win. A few months later, at the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona, he did the same to Clint Bowyer, once again in overtime.

Before the 2023 Daytona 500, very few saw Stenhouse Jr as a legitimate threat for anything. But just like those last two instances, he shocked the world for a third time, winning a race that ended on extra laps. He scored his fourth and most recent victory, thanks to yet another late caution this weekend. Hence, as the record stands, all of Ricky Stenhouse‘s career Cup wins have come on drafting tracks. But more importantly, he’s won each one of those races in overtime. Some may call it nothing else but sheer dumb luck. But it’s hard to disregard the level of perseverance it takes to hold out for that long on a superspeedway.

However, Jordan Bianchi, who recently sat down with his podcast partner Jeff Gluck on The Teardown asserts, “ This is what Ricky Stenhouse does so well…” Showering Stenhouse’s draft-track prowess with high praise, Bianchi then explained, “I’ve talked about how this is an era of specialization. And if you’re a certain driver. You have the skill set… There’s more road courses. More superspeedways. It’s like you focus on those. You can do that and do that well. You’re gonna be around for a long time. Ricky’s won back-to-back races now in superspeedways in consecutive years. It’s just an impressive performance for him…”

This is what he does so well,” reiterated Bianchi, “because we have seen different drivers who have struggled in the transition from the old car to this car, and their skill set hasn’t come with. Ricky has not had that problem.” Indeed, Ricky has not. His first two superspeedway wins came in the Gen 6 car, while he contested his most recent ones behind the wheel of a Next-Gen machine. Maybe he’s not the most versatile driver in the current field. But no doubt, Stenhouse Jr has solidified his immense adaptability, especially after playing disruptor in ‘Dega.

As for the car, it looks like it’s making progress with its superspeedway package. After the installation of heightened roof rails on its right-hand side prior to the race, fortunately, no cars flipped on Sunday. But thanks to that 28-car ‘Big One,’ a lengthy nine-minute cleanup period, and some controversial Damaged Vehicle Policy decisions, a near-flawless race found its due critics. Now, that doesn’t change the fact that the drivers doing the racing turned the knobs to eleven to ensure peak excitement. But winning a race like this takes more than just preparation or affinity; sometimes you need the right person in the right place to oversee the proceedings.

Tab Boyd: the secret weapon behind Ricky Stenhouse Jr’s success

To beat a 6x Talladega-winner and former Cup champion like Brad Keselowski by 0.006 seconds, you need a support system that works like clockwork. From crew chief to tire changer to spotter, everyone must be in tune with one collective goal in mind—being the first past the finish line, no matter the odds. And JTG Daugherty’s #47 crew brought the heat to Alabama, which in return, helped their driver become the third non-playoff participant to have won in the 2024 post-season.

There’s a lot to uncover when you look past the accolades. But just for the record, Ricky Stenhouse Jr (4) now trails only Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, and Brad Keselowski among all recent Cup drivers for most wins on a drafting track. Now a 2x Talladega-winner, Stenhouse had once revealed what could very well be his secret weapon. Ahead of the 2022 season, the #47 team witnessed an integral personnel change. Joey Logano and William Byron’s former spotter, Tab Boyd, replaced Frank Deiny, who currently serves in Kaulig Racing’s 2024 spotter lineup.

Tab Boyd has taken Joey Logano to two victory lane visits in Talladega, and the 2015 Daytona 500. Additionally, the spotter has also won the Daytona fall race with William Byron in 2020. Boyd knows something about these kinds of tracks than the average human being does. And Stenhouse Jr is confident in his spotter’s abilities. Back in 2022, he had said, “I think Tab is a top-five spotter on the roof in our garage. And got really good success winning at all different types of racetracks. I think of what him and Logano were able to do on the speedways and the information that he’s given me so far throughout the tests that we’ve had. Everything’s been spot on and I’m looking forward to running in a full season with him.”

Two years down the line, Tab Boyd has helped Ricky Stenhouse Jr to another draft track victory, adding to his immense legacy. For that fact, Boyd was one of the first people to realize the #47 crossed the line before the #6. Stenhouse Jr revealed this in his post-race interview, where he said, “You know, my spotter Tab was pumped as soon as we crossed the line.” However, the question remains: can he guide his driver to the Playoffs in 2025? He certainly must. With a resume that shiny and a determined team, it would be a shame to not witness the duo reach their full potential.