Amid Major Sponsorship Blow to Tony Stewart, His Talent vs Money Argument Leads Bubba Wallace’s Spotter to Name Likely SHR Recruits

Will the 2024 Cup Series season be the new dawn for Tony Stewart’s team Stewart-Haas Racing? Or will they fall flat on their face, even after signing a rookie yet adept driver like Josh Berry? The reason behind such cynicism is none other than the uncertainty over funding. It seems that a dark cloud is forming on the future of the team.

But it is not just sponsors and securing funding for the team that seems to be the sole reason for the headache for Tony Stewart, but also the doubtful position of Aric Almirola as a Cup Series driver.

In this whole spectrum of unpredictability, Bubba Wallaces’s spotter Freddie Kraft and TJ Majors chart out the possible drivers who can perhaps replace Aric Almirola and also bring in funding with them to get the car, or rather cars, going. 

Tony Stewart’s Preference for Talent Over Money Gets Support From Veteran Spotters

It seems that the announcement of retirement by Kevin Harvick, after the 2023 season, has opened a box of uncertainties for the Stewart-Haas Racing team. Although Josh Berry is set to replace the veteran driver, Harvick’s primary sponsor Anheuser-Busch is also set to bid its farewell. This sure is a cause of concern. Moreover, Tony Stewart’s confession that drivers buying their way into the series has stirred some controversy in the NASCAR fraternity. 

Even Freddie Kraft and TJ Majors accept the fact on the latest episode of Door Bumper Clear. TJ Majors speaking on Tony Stewart’s bold revelation exclaimed, “He has his way and that’s what he likes. He has always been an old-school racer and that’s how he has worked and gone up to the ranks he wants other people to do the same things. So obviously there are drivers with money but at this point, we need those too.”

However, speaking on the financial front of the team and Kevin Harvick’s performance, Freddie Kraft shared, “And when we try to back to talent over money. And it’s hard, and you look at a team like Stewart-Haas and it’s clear that they are struggling right now like Kevin is doing in that car right now and is phenomenal compared to everybody. At one point I thought he has the best car and drove up to the top-5, like when the sun went down.”

Even Majors acknowledged Kraft’s stance. He replied, “This is like Kevin all year, they don’t have raw straight one-lap speed, they don’t have that, but when the race starts Kevin is super, he knows what he is doing and he is really good. He knows how to discipline himself and stay at the bottom and that’s what he did, stay on the bottom.”

Watch this Story: Can Josh Berry Be the Next Big thing in NASCAR?

Freddie Kraft Charts Out the Possible Drivers Who Could Replace Aric Almirola

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But the uncertainty for the team does not end by introducing Josh Berry as a replacement for the 2014 Cup Series champion. The source of concern is Aric Almirola, who might follow the same suit as his teammate Kevin Harvick, after the 2023 season. At this juncture, Kraft raises the possible names of those who could possibly replace Almirola.

Bubba Wallace’s spotter believes that it would be Zane Smith or Michael McDowell who could make it to the Cup Series, only if Tony Stewart believes in talent over money proposition.

However, regarding the question about sponsorship being the primary concern, Kraft also adds, “You go to a guy that got plenty of money and Riley Herbst is that an option? If Tony will see where we go after Aric leaves and Tony sticks Herbst in there [then he is going back on his word]. But I think he will stick to and go with guys like Zane or McDowell if Aric leaves.”

But Freddie Kraft believes, Stewart’s prioritizing of talent over money would surely help Cup Series in the long run and also deliver quality performance on the tracks of NASCAR. 

However, it is too early to ascertain anything. But it would be interesting to see how the story unfolds with each passing day. While fans have already set the expectations bar high for Berry, it is to be seen how SHR takes charge of its state of affairs and delivers Cup Series-worthy results.

Read More: Despite Betting All His Chips on Josh Berry, Tony Stewart Warns Latest SHR Recruit of Tough Journey Ahead in Cup Series