Hyak Motorsports Parts Ways with Spotter Tab Boyd Ahead of Pocono
Hyak Motorsports has announced the departure of spotter Tab Boyd, who has been working with driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and the No. 47 Chevrolet. Boyd has been replaced by Clayton Hughes, who will assume spotting duties for the upcoming race at Pocono.
Stenhouse confirmed the change during a SiriusXM NASCAR interview, stating, "That’s an unfortunate deal. The team let Tab Boyd go this week, and we got Clayton Hughes to come fill in. I’ve never worked with Clayton."
No rationale for Boyd’s firing has been provided; Motorsport.com has reached out to the team for comments but has not yet received a response. Boyd has been in the spotlight recently due to a controversial post on X (formerly Twitter), criticizing Mexico following NASCAR’s first points-paying Cup race there since 1958. He reportedly faced scamming attempts during his visit and has since deleted his account.
Despite his removal as spotter for the No. 47 team, Boyd is still listed as the spotter for Ryan Ellis and the No. 71 DGM Racing Chevrolet in the Xfinity Series, as well as for Luke Baldwin and the No. 66 ThorSport Ford in the Truck Series. Boyd is a seasoned spotter, previously affiliated with Hendrick Motorsports and driver William Byron, and contributed to Stenhouse’s victory in the 2023 Daytona 500.
In related news, Spire Motorsports recently fined driver Carson Hocevar $50,000 for derogatory comments made about Mexico during a Twitch live-stream. The fine will be donated to various Mexican charities, and Hocevar will undergo mandatory cultural-sensitivity training.
This series of events reflects ongoing challenges within the NASCAR community regarding conduct and representation, particularly during international events.
