CONCORD, N.C. – Roush Fenway Racing has announced the team is parting ways with driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in favor of Chris Buescher for the 2020 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.
Stenhouse has been a part of Roush Fenway Racing’s NASCAR Cup Series program since 2013. During that time he has earned two victories – both in 2017 – as well as 15 top-five and 33 top-10 finishes.
He also won two NASCAR Xfinity Series championships – in 2011 and 2012 – while driving for Roush Fenway Racing.
“We can’t say enough about Ricky and his contributions to Roush Fenway Racing,” said team co-owner Jack Roush. “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.”
Buescher, a product of Roush Fenway’s development driver program who will take over the No. 17 from Stenhouse, won the ARCA Menards Series title in 2012 and later the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship for Roush Fenway Racing in 2015.
He moved to the NASCAR Cup Series full-time in 2016 with Front Row Motorsports, earning his first series victory at Pocono Raceway that same year when dense fog forced NASCAR officials to cancel the remainder of the race while Buescher was in the lead.
In 2017 Buescher moved to JTG Daugherty Racing, where he has spent the last three seasons driving the No. 37 Chevrolet Camaro. He has one win, four top-five and 12 top-10 finishes in NASCAR Cup Series competition.
“We are certainly excited to have Chris back in the fold at Roush Fenway Racing,” said Roush. “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.”
In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, JTG Daugherty Racing team owner Tad Geschickter said his team was in the final stages of contract negotiations with Buescher when he found out his driver had signed with Roush Fenway Racing.
“We were in the final strokes of the contract when learning that Chris has gone in a different direction,” said Tad Geschickter, JTG Daugherty Racing team owner. “We appreciate all of the efforts from Chris through the past three seasons at JTG Daugherty Racing. When the dust settles, we will begin the process of searching for our next driver to fill the No. 37 seat for the 2020 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.”