NASCAR insider positive about JTG Daugherty Racing's future "regardless of what happens with Kroger" amid sponsor's exit rumors

NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass expects JTG Daugherty Racing to continue its endeavors in 2025 despite the potential exit of its long-time sponsor, Kroger. The single-car Cup team has been under the scanner since Joe Gibbs Racing has become a possible landing spot for the co-owner, Tad Geschickter.

JTG Daugherty Racing was founded by Geschickter in 1995. The team is co-owned by him, his wife Jodi, former NBA player Brad Daugherty, and Gordon Smith. It competed in the Xfinity Series until 2008 and secured two wins. In 2009, it moved to full-time Cup Series racing with Marcos Ambrose fielding the #47 Ford.

The team has collected two Cup wins, the latest being Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s 2023 Daytona 500 triumph.

Earlier this year, Geschickter's potential switch to JGR did rounds in the community. This came after his 'Brand Activation Maximizer' agency started working with Joe Gibbs' team in 2022. What sparked concern was that Geschickter owned a Chevrolet-powered team whereas Gibbs owned a Toyota-powered outfit.

As a result, rumors of Kroger, America's largest supermarket chain, exiting from JTG Daugherty Racing along with Geschickter gained traction. A fan questioned the Harrisburg-based outfit's future amid the sponsor's probable exit.

Pockrass opined that he believes the team will continue its operations regardless of how the sponsorship deal turns out for 2025.

"I went by the JTG shop in May and from the work/apparent investment being done there by Gordon Smith (who was quoted in the Stenhouse contract extension news release as the team owner), I expect them to continue on regardless of what happens with Kroger."

Kroger has been a long-time sponsor with JTG Daugherty Racing. They kicked off their partnership in 2010 and have been a prominent entity for the team since inking another deal in 2015.

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RFK Racing is reportedly bringing JTG Daugherty's longtime sponsor aboard as part of their expansion plan

RFK Racing has been in NASCAR for decades. The team was founded by Jack Roush in 1988 and was renamed Roush Fenway Racing after John Henry and Fenway Sports Group assumed co-ownership. In 2022, it was rebadged Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing when Brad Keselowski joined the team as a driver and co-owner.

A few weeks back, Bob Pockrass asked Keselowski about RFK expanding to a three-car team, but the #6 Ford driver downplayed the notion. However, he left the door open if a sponsor was ready to back their third car.

"Not today, but hopefully soon," he said on running the third car full-time. "I'd say anything's on the table. We did this year, not full-time but nothing's off the table."

Moving forward, as reported by The Athletic, RFK is reportedly expanding its operations from next season onwards and plans to bring JTG Daugherty Racing's sponsor, Kroger.

The supposed deal would look after all three RFK cars. This includes Keselowski's #6 Ford, Chris Buescher's #17 Ford, and the #60 Ford, most likely to be fielded by Ryan Preece.

“We don’t have any announcements that we’re ready to make, but hopefully we’ll have something to share with everybody here in the next month or so,” Keselowski said. “But nothing publicly that I’m ready to talk about.”

Preece is Stewart-Haas Racing's only Cup Series driver without a seat for the next season.