Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will replace Chris Buescher at JTG-Daugherty Racing in 2020 while Buescher replaces him at Roush Fenway Racing, but Stenhouse won't be driving the #37 Chevrolet vacated by Buescher. Instead, Stenhouse will drive the #47, as Ryan Preece moves from the #47 to the #37 ahead of next season, JTG-Daugherty announced Monday.
The race team also announced the addition of crew chief Brian Pattie to the organization. Pattie comes with Stenhouse from RFR, where he was Stenhouse's crew chief for the last three seasons. He'll continue as Stenhouse's crew chief in 2020.
“We’re really looking forward to welcoming Brian Pattie to JTG Daugherty Racing,” JTG-Daugherty Racing co-owner Tad Geschickter said. “With Brian’s veteran experience and knowledge at NASCAR’s premier level, we know he is going to be a great asset to the organization and work well with Ricky Stenhouse Jr.”
Both of Stenhouse's two NASCAR Cup Series wins came with Pattie as his crew chief at Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona International Speedway in 2017. In all, Pattie has six wins as a Cup Series crew chief.
“I’m very grateful to have Brian join me at JTG-Daugherty Racing next season,” Stenhouse said. “Working together the past several seasons, our relationship away from the track has really developed and I know that will speed up the process of getting familiar and plugged into the team as quick as possible. He knows what I’m looking for, and I know what he expects from me. This team is a great fit for both of us, and we’re looking forward to contributing to the success JTG-Daugherty Racing has been building.”
Preece not only will have a new car number in 2020, he'll also have a new crew chief in Trent Owens. Owens has been a crew chief at JTG-Daugherty Racing the last four years, mostly with the #37 team. He has one win as a Cup Series crew chief with Aric Almirola and Richard Petty Motorsports in 2014 at Daytona. Last year, he guided Chris Buescher to four top-10 finishes.
“Trent is a veteran at our organization, leading the charge on the N#37 car for the past three seasons,” Geschickter said. “He elevated a young driver in his second year in the series to consistently running in the top-15, and we have high expectations that he will be a great fit with Ryan Preece next year in his sophomore season.”
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