Although the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season still has nine races remaining, the silly season rumor mill is already in full swing. One of the most recent rumors suggested that Ricky Stenhouse Jr. could be heading from HYAK Motorsports to Spire Motorsports next season. However, the 37-year-old driver has officially shut down that speculation, clarifying his plans for the 2026 season and beyond.
Where Will Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Drive in 2026?
The rumor mill began churning with talk of potential drivers for Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 car, which is currently driven by Justin Haley.
To be fair, Haley hasn’t had a great season, managing only one top-five finish so far, which came in the regular-season finale at Daytona. After Corey LaJoie was let go by Spire last year, Haley was brought in as a promising young talent, but his performance has not yet met expectations, fueling rumors that he could be on the hot seat.
Several names have been floated as possible replacements, including Truck Series sensation Corey Heim, who is looking for a long-overdue promotion, and Daniel Suarez, who lost his seat at Trackhouse Racing for 2026. Stenhouse’s name was also added to that list, but the Mississippi native was quick to set the record straight.
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In a recent interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Stenhouse said, “For me, you know, we re-did my contract last year with HYAK Motorsports. So, I’m here through [20]26, unless they tell me otherwise, or unless we redo another one and stay there for longer.”
While it’s true Stenhouse hasn’t had his best season so far, with only one top-five and three top-10 finishes in 27 races, single-car teams in NASCAR often face an uphill battle. With a veteran driver like Stenhouse, a two-time Xfinity Series champion and the 2023 Daytona 500 winner, HYAK Motorsports has a valuable asset, making a split unlikely.
What Does the Future Hold for Stenhouse and His Team?
In fact, Stenhouse expressed his hope to continue building with the team even beyond his current contract.
“For me, [Crew Chief] Mike [Kelley] and the boys, like I said, we’re working hard on trying to figure out how we can get some consistency and a little bit more speed heading into the offseason so we can hit the ground running for next year. I’ve got a great group of guys who work hard, and we all want the same thing. I’ll be at the 47 the rest of this year, and the offseason, and going into ’26,” he added.
🖋️ “I’m here through ’26.”
Amid rumors about his future, Ricky @StenhouseJr says he’ll be with @JTGRacing for the 2026 season.
Full Interview–> https://t.co/MKhd9eLpQA pic.twitter.com/Cij8IDtC5A
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) September 2, 2025
While Stenhouse is staying put, plenty of other dominoes are expected to fall once the offseason is in full swing. Suarez has yet to find a new home for next season after being replaced by NASCAR prodigy Connor Zilisch.
Additionally, the ongoing NASCAR lawsuit could impact the futures of drivers at 23XI Racing, like Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace, and Front Row Motorsports drivers like Zane Smith. It will be interesting to see who ends up where when the 2026 Cup Series season gets the green flag.