By Sarah Handy, Staff Writer
Silly season is still upon us with more news breaking on Wednesday afternoon. Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team Roush Fenway Racing announced that the team and Ricky Stenhouse Jr would part ways following the 2019 season.
Hello, Chris Buescher. That’s right, Buescher who currently drives the No. 37 Chevrolet for JTG-Daugherty Racing will return to Roush in 2020.
Buescher is no stranger to the organization owned by Jack Roush. The Prosper, TX native first joined Roush as a development driver in 2009 and went on to win the 2012 ARCA Series Championship in a partnership with Roulo Brothers Racing.
He went on to run a total of 74 races for the owner known as “The Cat in the Hat” from 2011 through 2015 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, amassing three wins, 16 Top-5s, 36 Top-10s and also won the 2015 NXS Championship.
“We are certainly excited to have Chris back in the fold at Roush Fenway Racing,” said Roush in a press release. “He has a long history with our organization and we’ve always been a big fan of Chris and his racing style. We have watched his progress with great interest over the last couple of seasons and we are looking forward to having him in the No. 17 as we continue to grow our program next season.”
On the other end of the spectrum, Ricky Stenhouse Jr has never raced for another organization in his Xfinity or Cup career.
From 2009 through 2016, Stenhouse ran 108 races in the NXS, amassing eight wins, 40 Top-5s 63 Top-10s and won both the 2011 and 2012 Championships when the series was under the Nationwide banner.
Stenhouse has spent the last seven seasons running full-time for Roush in the Cup Series after taking over for Matt Kenseth in 2013. Heading into this weekend’s event at the Roval from Charlotte Motor Speedway, Stenhouse has amassed two wins, 15 Top-5s, 33 Top-10s and two pole awards.
“We can’t say enough about Ricky and his contributions to Roush Fenway Racing,” said team co-owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jack Roush in a press release. “We’re proud to have been a part of Ricky’s development from ARCA to Xfinity and ultimately the Cup Series. He has served as a great representative to our partners, while helping to accumulate numerous accolades, wins and multiple championships on the racetrack. We wish him well as he enters the next chapter of his career.”
The question remains with so few seats being vacated in the Cup Series, where will Stenhouse Jr end up next season?
Only in NASCAR do they praise a driver they just fired. Rickey’s record is far from stellar but then he has been driving junk cars for several years now. So was it the driver or the car? Who knows?