When one door closes, another opens! A sentiment that must be playing on a loop for Stewart-Haas Racing drivers. Currently fielding four drivers, the team dropped a shocking announcement a week ago. After 15 long years in NASCAR, it will discontinue after this season. But its drivers are bound to find new homes soon, as Dale Earnhardt Jr believes.

SHR’s shuttering coincided with other teams overhauling their machinery as well. Significantly, a Joe Gibbs Racing seat may soon fall vacant, as Martin Truex Jr might retire. Dale Jr debates whether an SHR student will replace the outgoing veteran driver.

Dale Earnhardt Jr highlights the sponsor link

Martin Truex Jr has mulled over his retirement several times already. Since 2022, he has stalled his exit twice. However, rumors are afoot that 2025 may finally be his time to leave the sport. Being a stellar racecar driver, the 44-year-old holds championships in both Cup and Xfinity. Hence, filling his shoes would be a tall order.

But Dale Earnhardt Jr believes internal links could help. In a recent episode of Dale Jr Download, Junior established the SHR-Truex link. “I think it’s not just the Stewart-Haas charters shaking things up, that is detrimental but also opportunity-creating for a lot of these drivers like Josh. Martin Truex Jr in his decision to either stay another year or retire is a big domino…So if Martin Truex Jr does retire, you know only a handful of drivers will be considered for that car.”

However, sponsor support is also a strong factor besides sheer talent. Dale Earnhardt Jr believes one SHR driver is favorable in this aspect. “I think one of those drivers that would be considered is Noah Gragson because of his connection to Bass Pro Shop. Bass Pro spends a lot of money on Martin’s car, the 19. I think that they would probably say to Joe Gibbs, ‘I’ll get you a little bit more if Noah can be considered.’”

Driving his first full-time Cup season, Noah Gragson has already proved his mettle. He fetched a string of top-ten finishes, including a career-best 3rd-place finish in Talladega. Hence, FOX journalist Bob Pockrass also concurs with Dale Earnhardt Jr. “Noah Gragson, who has some sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops, also can’t be counted out for that JGR ride, where a significant amount of the Bass Pro money goes each year to sponsor Truex,” said Pockrass.

Besides the sponsor’s pick of Noah Gragson, Dale Earnhardt Jr extended his focus to another SHR driver.

The SHR rookie could bank on history

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Despite the sponsor’s backing of Gragson, Dale Jr floated his doubts. He believes Joe Gibbs may hesitate: “I don’t know how favorable Joe and Ty Gibbs would be to having Noah.” Instead, Dale Earnhardt Jr shifted his attention to another driver. Before Josh Berry ventured into NASCAR, he ran some stellar races in the CARS Tour, a series co-owned by Dale Jr.

Owning 21 wins in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour, Berry could be another pick in case Martin Truex Jr vacates the JGR No. 19 car. Additionally, Berry knows the Gibbs beforehand. Dale Jr brought it up: “Would they consider Josh? Ty Gibbs raced with Josh in the CARS Tour, I think they have a great relationship. I think Josh has worked with Bass Pro in the past.”

However, the onus is all on Truex, as Dale Jr added, “But that depends on what Truex is gonna do. No matter what if Truex does retire, someone is going to that 19.” SHR’s fate met an untimely end. But the team is going through a bittersweet experience as its drivers look forward to a bright future.