Hyak Motorsports has announced a new partnership for Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s No. 47 Chevrolet. Chef Boyardee will sponsor the veteran in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series beginning with the Clash, the Daytona 500, and other select races.
Chef Boyardee joins a growing list of partners for Hyak Motorsports’ single-car effort, alongside Hungry Jack, NOS Energy Drink, Three Finger Jack, and Onin Staffing. The iconic food brand is known for its red cans and Italian-style pasta products, and is now owned by the Hometown Food Company.
The team revealed the partnership on X with a photo of the 47 car’s red-themed livery, captioned:
“Excited to welcome @ChefBoyardee to the team for the 2026 season! Chef Boyardee will sponsor the No. 47 team for multiple races this season starting with The Clash and Daytona 500 👨🏻🍳.”
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has already won the Daytona 500 in 2023 in a chaotic finish after a massive double-overtime crash. A crucial push from Christopher Bell allowed him to edge past Joey Logano just before the yellow flag, in the longest Daytona 500 in history.
Stenhouse also won the 2017 Coke Zero 400 at the same track and has built a reputation as one of the sport’s most effective superspeedway racers. In 27 Cup starts at Daytona, he carries an average finish of 21.3, but his ability to consistently place himself at the front late in races makes him a constant threat.
Speaking recently to Fox News, the 38-year-old made it clear that he wants to win again.
“I’m going to start with trying to win the Daytona 500,” Stenhouse said. “we have (won before), and we’re looking to do that again… You don’t want to put yourself in any bad position. So, we’ve put ourselves in position to win that race over the last five years, three or four times, and got it done one time. So, hopefully, we can do that again.”
With the season opener now just 34 days away, the arrival of a major brand partner gives Hyak Motorsports added momentum as it heads into the sport’s biggest race.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. says new playoff format won’t affect the Daytona 500 preparations for Hyak Motorsports
NASCAR is set to unveil its revised championship format on January 12. However, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has already made it clear that any structural changes will not alter how he approaches the Daytona 500. When asked whether a new playoff system could influence his strategy, the Mississippi native said in the Fox interview:
“I don’t think so. Definitely not the Daytona 500. You kind of run the Daytona 500 of, ‘Hey, I want to finish the race,’ because you’ve got to finish the race to win, obviously.”
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is coming off a difficult 2025 season with Hyak Motorsports, finishing 30th in the standings with just one top-five finish. The team endured long stretches outside the top 20. Despite that, Stenhouse’s superspeedway record and new commercial support make him a central figure for the No. 47 Hyak Motorsports program.
