The idea of ownership has often attracted NASCAR drivers. Many NASCAR drivers have helped the sport grow through their initiatives, from racing series and teams to race tracks. One of the classic examples of the same would be the story of Tony Stewart and Stewart-Haas Racing. The three-time Cup champion struck a deal with Haas CNC Racing in 2009 to acquire 50% ownership of the team in return for driving it in the Cup Series.

Since then, the team has seen its highs and lows. However, in the past few seasons, SHR drivers have been off the mark, and in the recently concluded 2023 season, the team failed to muster a win. With Tony Stewart being heavily involved in the success of his operations outside of the Cup Series circuit, one would wonder what has gone wrong at SHR and what would give the team a wave of momentum and success.

What has gone wrong for Tony Stewart and SHR?

In 2023, three Ford teams managed to win a race in the Cup Series. Team Penske was joined by RFK Racing and a surprising inclusion of Front Row Motorsports on the win list. Ford teams dominated the three national tourneys, with SHR driver Cole Custer winning the Xfinity Series championship to get one back for the team. But the team’s scenario in the Cup Series has been worrying.

Following Stewart’s impressive season as the owner of McPhillips Racing and a championship win from Matt Hagan, questions have been raised about the decline of Stewart-Haas Racing. In 2020, Kevin Harvick produced a regular-season winning performance with nine wins. The team’s drivers combined to make it ten wins, 30 top-5s, and 64 top-10s, and Harvick finished 5th in the final standings. Fast forward to 2023, and SHR has managed only ten top-5s and 20 top-10s with zero wins, which is an alarming statistic.

The slump for SHR has put Kevin Harvick’s No.4 team in the spotlight. Over the years, Harvick has been the sole ray of hope for the team. Even this season, none of the SHR drivers bar him managed to make it to the playoffs. SHR’s Cup season ended as soon as Harvick was ousted in the first round of the playoffs. The question now arises – has Tony Stewart’s expansive interest in his different ventures affected SHR’s success?

Currently, Tony Stewart is an owner in the NHRA, Sprint Cars, and SRX Series and even owns the Eldora Speedway. All of them have been successful in the recent past, unlike SHR. With Kevin Harvick’s departure from NASCAR, Stewart faced the tough task of replacing him, which he eventually did with Josh Berry. Berry will also inherit crew chief Rodney Childers‘ services from his predecessor and is responsible for filling the big shoes of the No.4.

Fingers can be pointed towards the team’s recruitment. While the No.4 team has shown its abilities occasionally, SHR’s other three teams have barely scratched the surface. Despite Ford cars resurgent in the latter half of the season, SHR drivers failed to show up. The situation has been worrying, but what are the solutions to it?

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Tony Stewart is a 3-time Cup Series champion and a racing connoisseur. With him not driving any of the team’s cars, he has to sign people to the team based on his perspective. While his judgemental understanding isn’t in doubt, the results paint a different picture. Alongside Harvick, No.10 Ford driver Aric Almirola has also left the team. The vacant spot is up for grabs, and the replacements have been speculated on, too.

Noah Gragson is one of the drivers linked with a move to SHR. The 25-year-old has showcased his talent in the Xfinity Series and was one of the Rookie of the Year’s contenders until an indefinite suspension from NASCAR. Now that he’s back and racing, he could very well take the helm.

Apart from the racing side of things, the team could also use some help with a merger. Dale Earnhardt Jr has expressed his interest in fielding a Cup Series car time and time again. Stewart could help out his colleague and sign an alliance with JR Motorsports that would greatly bolster their firepower. JR Motorsports has been nurturing young talent from the grassroots level, and SHR’s new driver, Berry, is a fine example of that.

An influx of drivers and crew members from Stewart’s other ventures into SHR could also have a positive effect. With the plethora of talent in NASCAR, Stewart could bring in some changes that hopefully turn the team’s fortunes.

It remains to be seen how the year 2024 unfolds for Stewart-Haas Racing. Can it replicate Tony Stewart’s success in NHRA, or will its poor run of form continue?

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