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Hyak Motorsports Parts Ways with NASCAR Cup Spotter Tab Boyd
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Highlights
- Hyak Motorsports fired spotter Tab Boyd ahead of Pocono race.
- Clayton Hughes replaces Boyd as Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s spotter.
- Boyd posted controversial remarks about Mexico, later deleting posts.
- Stenhouse’s team struggles, sitting outside top 20 before playoffs.
- Carson Hocevar fined $50,000 for offensive Mexico comments.
- Hughes debuts at Pocono amid rising pressure on Stenhouse.
Hyak Motorsports has made a sudden change atop the spotter’s stand by releasing Tab Boyd from his role with the NASCAR Cup Series team. Boyd, who joined the No. 47 Chevrolet and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in 2022, will not be guiding the team during the upcoming Pocono race.
Clayton Hughes has now stepped in as the new spotter for Stenhouse, marking a new chapter for the team as they prepare for a busy racing stretch. Stenhouse, who won the 2023 Daytona 500 with Boyd as his spotter, described the move as unfortunate during a Friday interview but confirmed that the team chose to part ways this week.
No official reason for Boyd’s departure has been provided to the public. When asked, Stenhouse did not elaborate on the details behind the decision, leaving fans and media looking for answers.
Motorsport.com made efforts to contact Hyak Motorsports for clarification but did not receive a response. However, this move follows controversy involving Boyd and the Cup Series’ recent trip to Mexico City.
Boyd posted on X, expressing dissatisfaction and frustration about his experience during the event. In his since-deleted post, he described being hustled by locals shortly after leaving his hotel and shared negative views on the visit.
Following online backlash, Boyd removed his social media presence. Despite his dismissal from Hyak Motorsports’ Cup team, Boyd is still set to spot for Ryan Ellis in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Luke Baldwin in the NASCAR Truck Series this weekend.
Boyd is an experienced voice on the radio, having previously worked with Hendrick Motorsports and William Byron before teaming with Stenhouse. His contributions were vital during their Daytona 500 victory but now the team is turning to Hughes, who has worked with championship talents in the past.
[p style=”margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;”]The timing of this decision arrives as Stenhouse faces a challenging phase of the season. With only ten points-paying races remaining before the playoffs, the No. 47 team sits outside the top 20 in the overall standings and is pressing to improve its performance.
Recent races have resulted in finishes outside the top 20, putting added pressure on both driver and crew as they fight for a playoff position. This change at spotter could play a decisive role in shaping the rest of Stenhouse’s season.
Spotter moves are not the only disciplinary actions hitting NASCAR this week. Spire Motorsports has fined driver Carson Hocevar $50,000 after offensive remarks about Mexico made during a live stream.
Hocevar’s penalty includes the fine being donated to charities and mandates for him to take cultural-sensitivity and awareness training.
Tensions between Stenhouse and Hocevar have also surfaced on track and online, adding another layer of drama to the weekend.
All eyes will be on Pocono, where Hughes will call the race from above for the first time with Stenhouse. As the race schedule continues and pressures mount, Hyak Motorsports aims to move forward with a new look, determined to find on-track success and leave recent controversies behind. For more insights on managing team dynamics under pressure, see Wolff defends Mercedes.
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
* The featured image is not a real photograph — it was created using AI.
