The 2023 Cup Series season has been the most transitional season for Tony Stewart and his Stewart-Haas Racing team. With major reshuffling and the introduction of a new driver to the team, the updates of the Stewart-Haas Racing camp have been quite eventful. But what has not been eventful for the team is on the racing front.
The team has been struggling with its current manufacturer, Ford, as they flounder to deliver favorable results.
And the only driver who seems to lead the pack, and pull the team toward the light at the end of the dark tunnel, is Kevin Harvick. But the veteran driver who is set to retire after the current season, is yet to take a win this season. He may deliver, top-5s and top-10s every weekend, but that does not help the fact that the team is simply being overshadowed by others.
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Even the team owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, Tony Stewart sighed about the current condition of the team in the latest episode of NASCAR Live.
Tony Stewart Reveals His Dejection Toward His Team’s Performance
Earlier in an episode of Door Bumper Clear, the veteran spotters Freddie Kraft and TJ Majors shared their thoughts that it was Kevin Harvick who had consistently delivered positive results throughout the season. However, his other teammates are yet to make it to the top 10s during the weekends. The spotters had reinforced that SHR is struggling on both the fronts, machinery and financially.
Tony Stewart reiterated the same notions about his team in a conversation with the MRN announcer, Mike Bagley. Commenting upon the current state of the team, Stewart expressed, “I would love to sit there and act like that it’s roses all the way around, but it’s not we have had our fair share of struggles.”
“We had weekends where it’s been hard to watch the race and to watch all four teams and drivers struggle. You know I remind those guys in their meetings on Tuesday, that everybody’s intentions are the same, everybody is pulling the rope in the same direction. And I think the most important part of it is even though we haven’t had the results, we are accustomed to and strive for, that mentality and camaraderie in the shop is still the same.”
“Everybody is pulling the rope in the same direction. It’s not people on the corners are pointing fingers at a different corner, blaming. It’s everybody’s goal. How can we work together to make it better, and ebbs and flows in motorsports,” Stewart asserted.
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In order to restore the old faith of the team, and reinforce that the team still has the caliber of winning championships, Stewart drew the comparison of the IndyCar team, Team Penske.
Stewart continued, “Everybody’s had troubles, you look at Penske, not even getting cars in the field for one year in the Indy 500, and he is probably the best car owner in the history of Indy car racing.”
However, a hopeful Tony Stewart asserted, “It proves that it ebbs and flows and you have to be able to adapt. The new cars have been a bit of a challenge for us and our group so I guess I would love to say it’s been a great season and be able to tell everybody when they say tell us halfway through the year, you feel how your season’s been. But it’s not, unfortunately, but we are working on it.”
“Our groups putting in the effort the time and resources to do everything that they can get these four cars up front.”
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With only just 9 races left in the regular season, will the drivers in the SHR camp be able to alter the tide of the game and make it to the playoffs and restore the faith of the NASCAR community in SHR back? Will Kevin Harvick deliver one swan song before bidding his way away from the world of professional racing? Only time holds the key to all the answers.