Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is getting an early taste of New England before the NASCAR Cup Series returns to New Hampshire Motor Speedway next month. With the Dollar Tree 301 serving as the region’s only Cup Series race, the Hyak Motorsports driver traded race preparations for a day exploring some of Maine’s most recognizable traditions, giving fans a glimpse of the culture that surrounds one of NASCAR’s most unique summer weekends.
The visit wasn’t just a sightseeing tour. It highlighted the connection between New Hampshire Motor Speedway and the surrounding New England communities, where race weekend extends well beyond the action on track. From lobster boats and local bakeries to historic landmarks, Stenhouse experienced many of the attractions that thousands of fans travel to see each August before the Cup Series arrives in Loudon.
His day began at Luke’s Lobster Portland Pier, where he stepped inside Maine’s commercial fishing industry. Guided by Jeff Holden, Stenhouse learned how a traditional lobster roll is prepared before touring the waterfront operation where fresh catches arrive each day. He walked through the receiving area, visited the holding tanks, and later joined local media for lunch overlooking the working harbor while enjoying one of the state’s signature meals.
The experience continued offshore aboard a Lucky Catch Cruise with Captain Tom Martin. Wearing the same orange apron and rubber gloves as the crew, Stenhouse helped haul lobster traps from the Atlantic, learned how each catch is measured and inspected, and watched as claws were banded before the lobsters returned to shore. It offered a hands-on look at an industry that has become synonymous with coastal Maine.
Once back on shore, Stenhouse continued his tour with a visit to The Holy Donut, stepping into the kitchen to learn the process behind one of Maine’s most popular local specialties. Joshua Ward, the bakery’s Director of Retail Operations, walked him through the process of making the shop’s well-known potato donuts from scratch.
Stenhouse mixed, cut, fried, flipped, and glazed the donuts before rewarding himself with a Maine blueberry donut and packing up a half-dozen assorted flavors, including maple bacon and whoopie pie, for the trip home. Before leaving Portland, Stenhouse visited Portland Head Light at Fort Williams Park, one of Maine’s best-known landmarks. With the Atlantic surf crashing against the rocky coastline below, he took in the scenery and capped off a day spent experiencing the region’s unique character.
Race fans will see all three national touring series represented alongside the Whelen Modified Tour, while off-track attractions ranging from concerts and driver appearances to Trackside Live, fireworks, Family Movie Night, and The Groove will once again transform Loudon into one of NASCAR’s premier summer destinations.
Stenhouse said the visit gave him a new appreciation for Maine’s fishing industry and local traditions, adding that seeing how lobsters are harvested and learning the craft behind the state’s famous donuts made the experience even more memorable. Instead, it left him excitedly anticipating his return to New England ahead of race weekend.
By the time Stenhouse climbs back into the No. 47 Chevrolet for the Dollar Tree 301, the sightseeing will be over. The focus will shift to one of the final opportunities to build momentum before the regular season enters its closing stretch. But for one afternoon, the veteran driver traded horsepower for harbors, offering a reminder that New Hampshire race weekend has always been about more than what happens between the green and checkered flags.
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