“Gene was going to have to write a check that I wasn’t willing to ask him to write, honestly.” Stewart-Haas Racing would’ve continued its journey in stock-car racing had Tony Stewart gone against his beliefs; had he just asked Gene Haas what he didn’t want to ask. But that didn’t happen, and now, 2025 will feature only one-half of the project – the Haas Factory Team. But what made Haas rethink his future in NASCAR?

The single-car operation, strengthened by a technical alliance with RFK Racing, HFT, will debut with Cole Custer driving the No. 41 Ford in 2025. There was one person who was responsible for making Gene Haas see the positives of staying in NASCAR, and Tony Stewart revealed who it was while also discussing his heartbreaking decision to shut down Stewart-Haas Racing.

Long before SHR started dominating NASCAR circuits, Haas founded CNC Racing in 2002, and the California businessman lured Stewart in as a co-owner ahead of the 2009 season. Stewart had won two Cup championships for Joe Gibbs Racing at the time but couldn’t turn down an equity stake and opportunity to help a small team win races and contend for titles. After 16 years, as SHR announced its departure, there were rumors that Haas would remain active in some capacity, just as he had done before 2009 – either by partnering with an existing team or as an investor. But the team’s COO, Joe Custer, had other ideas.

The next thing you know, we had a new Cup Series team. Sharing the story behind the Haas Factory Team, Tony Stewart explained on the Query & Company radio show, “Joe Custer does what Joe Custer does best. He’s a motivator, and he makes things happen when he wants to and convinced Gene to keep one of the charters to put Cole back in the car. It’s good for Cole because Cole deserves it.”

When Stewart and Haas announced SHR’s departure, the move also meant shutting down their Xfinity program, leaving Riley Herbst and Cole Custer without a seat. But as Tony Stewart mentioned, the 26-year-old will be joining the Cup Series next season, quite deservedly, considering he won the 2023 Xfinity Series championship. Not to mention his showing at Indianapolis last weekend. But that also brings up Herbst.

In one of the most dramatic finishes in the Xfinity Series in recent history, three different drivers led each of the last three laps. But it was Herbst who led the most important one – Lap 100, taking the lead in the final corner to win. He, Custer, and Aric Almirola were three-wide while starting the final lap, and although it looked like the JGR driver would take second, Custer overtook him in the final stretch, giving SHR a 1-2 finish. Riley Herbst’s performance compelled Joe Custer to offer him a Haas Factory Team seat in the Xfinity Series for 2025.

That said, there’s no doubt that Tony Stewart could’ve stayed afloat in NASCAR, but it required Gene Haas to break the bank and spend big bucks. And ‘Smoke’ didn’t want to go down that road. He revealed, “Gene was gonna have to write a check that I wasn’t willing to ask him to write honestly. The amount that we were behind in budget for next year just put us in the wrong spot to continue. So, both Gene’s group and our group decided to shut it down.”

The decision would have been tough, but it has allowed him to focus on his pursuits at the NHRA level. Stewart has replaced his wife, Leah Pruett, to compete in the Top Fuel as a rookie. Although he had a rough start to his season, thanks to his mentor – his very own not-so-secret-agent – he’s slowly emerging as a contender for his first Top Fuel win.

Tony Stewart has the best coach in Leah Pruett

From competing in some 300-lap races in NASCAR to then adjusting to a 3-second drag race, it was a big change for Tony Stewart. Right from the technical aspects of drag racing to the competitive bits, this was a whole different ball game, even for someone as skilled and talented as Stewart. Slowly, he found his mojo, and in the latest event, the 53-year-old was on the cusp of his first NHRA Top Fuel win at the Sonoma Nationals. However, he came short in the final round against Antron Brown.

Despite the shortcomings, ‘Smoke’ is on the hunt for his first win this season. And he feels he’s on the right path, with his wife coaching him. “Leah does a great job of [knowing] my mindset. I don’t want to be 98% good at it. I want a 100%, so when we make a run, if there’s anything that she can pick apart and see that I don’t do it 100% right, she absolutely knows that I want her to tell me. She’s been an excellent coach, and honestly, it’s been the reason we’ve been successful this year.”

It looks like it’s only a matter of time before we see Stewart celebrate his first Top Fuel win this year. Who knows? Maybe that one win could act as a domino for future performances, even paving the way for a championship one day.