Ex-SHR Employee Spills Harsh Truth About Tony Stewart’s NASCAR Ownership After Rare Appearance in Phoenix

July 2008. That’s when Tony Stewart and Gene Haas announced Stewart-Haas Racing to the world. It had the power to be NASCAR’s next dynasty but fast forward to 2024, and the team has completed its final season before closing down operations. Stewart-Haas Racing is no longer part of NASCAR. Though ‘Smoke’ is content with his pursuits in the NHRA, his leadership as SHR’s owner was questioned several times. Absent. That’s how many would describe him at SHR.

Joel Edmonds, a familiar voice for fans of the Door Bumper Clear podcast, just dropped a bombshell during his recent appearance in Phoenix. As the conversation turned toward SHR and Tony Stewart’s influence, Edmonds didn’t hold back.

“I saw Tony was there. Like, as soon as they won, he was hugging the crew guys and all that, which is kind of—a—I mean, I’m not taking a shot at him, but it’s kind of a slap in the face, you know? I was there six years. I don’t know how many times I saw the guy,” Edmonds said. He was referring to Stewart’s rare appearance to watch his own team’s race at Phoenix. But he had to be present. After all, the season was ending, and it was his team’s last dance.

Criticizing ‘Smoke’, Edmonds further stated, “You’ve got to be present to win, and it’s not his fault for shutting down, probably.”

Edmonds has been in NASCAR for a long time. He started in the sport back in 1991 and hasn’t looked back since. After leaving Roush Fenway Racing in 2015, he teamed up with Stewart-Haas Racing, working as a spotter for Aric Almirola. His duties as a spotter saw him work with drivers such as Cole Custer as well as Chase Briscoe, both big names in the SHR camp.

However, fellow podcaster and NASCAR spotter, Brett Griffin, quickly added, “I think you got there when Tony was getting out. Cause he was there a lot when I was there.”

Edmonds confirmed on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, “My first year he was there around a lot.”

Brett Griffin further shared an anecdote about ‘Smoke’. He stated, “The day my mom was having hip surgery in Charlotte, we were at the Roval, and he stood beside me that whole race at the Roval on the spotter stand.” Though Edmonds agreed with Griffin, he still felt that Stewart’s absence as a leader led to situations where the team had to figure out things themselves.

In the last few years, Tony Stewart gradually reduced involvement in NASCAR. While he continued to be the team owner after retirement, Stewart found an interest in the NHRA, a league where his wife Leah Pruett races in a team the couple owns. When Pruett announced her pregnancy, she revealed it would be Tony Stewart taking over the reins of her drag car. It meant Stewart had less time to give to SHR, especially with the prospect of starting a family and taking on a new role in racing.

This rare, unfiltered take from a former SHR employee offers a look at the complicated dynamics of Tony Stewart’s role at SHR. While fans might see the victories and the headlines, the reality behind the curtain is far more layered. It’s a story of leadership, challenges, and, perhaps, a few missed opportunities.

What led to Stewart Haas Racing’s woes?

Stewart-Haas Racing, once a powerhouse in NASCAR, has called it quits after the 2024 season. After nearly 15 years, the organization has to make a tough decision. Previously, Stewart and Haas announced that the team would shut down, citing the intense commitment required for success in NASCAR and the challenges they were facing in the Next Gen era.

SHR has struggled to keep up with the giants like Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports in recent years. After the retirements of key figures like Stewart, Kevin Harvick, and Clint Bowyer, the team hit a rough path.

Last year, only one SHR driver made the playoffs, and there had been a noticeable lack of on-track success. This slump had been paired with dwindling off-track support, as corporate sponsors shifted their allegiances, with Smithfield pulling out of NASCAR entirely and Anheuser-Busch backing Trackhouse Racing instead.

On top of that, SHR’s partnership with Ford was coming to an end, further complicating things. As for Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, both have their focus elsewhere. Haas has been heavily invested in Formula One, while Tony Stewart has spent more time with his NHRA team. With the demands of running SHR weighing on them and their personal and business interests shifting, they decided it was time to step away and let someone else take the reins.

Are you a Stewart Haas Racing fan who was saddened by the news of their disbanding? Share your thoughts on this in the comments below.