As the sun began to set on a gripping season, the headquarters of Stewart-Haas Racing reeled with a seismic aftershock. The formidable juggernaut behind 69 Cup Series victories since its birth in 2009 and two championship titles was about to fade into oblivion. The shocking news of the dissolution of Stewart-Haas Racing, the two-time NASCAR championship-winning team, punctuated the ordinarily bustling atmosphere of the racing workshop in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Co-owners Tony Stewart and Gene Haas had confronted a storm of industry rumours that culminated in their decision to retire the enterprise. They planned to sell the team’s charters, leaving their followers on tenterhooks about their future engagement with the stock car series. The nearly 300 strong workforce, the lifeblood of the racing team, received the heart-wrenching announcement late Tuesday afternoon, casting a pall over the usually lively workshop.
Stewart and Haas reflected on the tough and protracted deliberations that led to this parting of ways in a joint statement. “Racing is a labor-intensive, humbling sport, it demands an unfaltering commitment and substantial resources. What makes the victories more gratifying is the relentless 365-day-a-year grind to outperform every other team in the pit – a resolve that tested our commitment to sustainability and performance. Today signifies a pivotal moment in our personal and business journeys, we’re ready to pass the torch.”
For NASCAR enthusiasts, the end of an era for Stewart-Haas Racing leaves the future of the Cup team, consisting of Josh Berry, Chase Briscoe, Noah Gragson, and Ryan Preece – all standing at the precipice of a career without the SHR banner rustling behind them. The future, particularly for Berry and Gragson who were just wetting their feet with the SHR team, seems uncertain. Briscoe on the other hand, has been embargoed from any form of future employment discussions, notwithstanding his 2025 option with SHR.
The ripple effect of this decision also cascades down to the SHR Xfinity Series team — an outfit that includes drivers Cole Custer and Riley Herbst. The team, much like Stewart-Haas itself will cease to exist.
When Gene Haas breath a new life into Haas CNC Racing in 2002, he was acutely aware of the need for a strong partner and found it in Tony Stewart. Stewart, lured in as a co-owner in 2009, set the burgeoning team on a path to glory. Stewart gave the team its first taste of success in 2009, winning four races that season, establishing what would later become a NASCAR titan.
But, as inevitable as time itself, Stewart, Harvick, and Clint Bowyer, the beating heart of SHR, transitioned from their primary roles. With their exit, the organization embarked on a challenging rebuilding process. SHR’s last trophy came home in 2022 with Harvick, a year prior to his own retirement, leaving a void that was never filled.
Adding insult to injury, the team’s relationship with Ford is slated to end when the season winds down. The string of significant sponsorship losses coupled with the absenteeism of the co-owners at NASCAR events has further deepened its struggles.
As the organization navigates this transitional phase, the internal operations lie in the hands of Joe Custer, the chief operating officer and a trusted ally of Haas. Despite the extraordinary achievements including two Cup titles, two Xfinity championships and victories in several iconic events, the decision to close was made.
Regardless of the road ahead, Stewart and Haas extended their heartfelt gratitude and reassured their employees, “We will work diligently to assist them during this transition to find new opportunities beyond the 2024 race season.”
Tomorrow may bring a revitalization of Haas’ F1 team, or it may not. With a future as unpredictable as a racer taking an uncharted turn at maximum speed, it is still unclear how the assets of SHR will be utilized. Despite a contentious atmosphere surrounding the charters, its value is clear.
As for the drivers left without a home, their resilience and talent are sure to lead them through. Whether to another Cup team or the Xfinity Series, as long as they have the roar of the engine and the cheering of the crowds, they will find their way. No matter where they land, the legacy of Stewart-Haas Racing will always be an indelible part of their journey.
