Tony Stewart leaving Joe Gibbs Racing was big news back in 2008! He had by then won the championship not once, but twice, first in 2002 and then in 2005 with the team. No one understood why he had to leave what he had and go venture out blindsighted! In fact, after the Ford 400, he attended a tearful farewell meeting with the team and gave away his car to Joey Logano, then a rookie.

Tony Stewart closing down SHR, the same company he built from the ground up must be gut-wrenching. But it wasn’t one reason which led him to close the company. Financial burdens can take a toll and with partnerships and sponsorships faltering and drivers like Harvick leaving, their team couldn’t find the end of the tunnel. He never shared why he left JGR for Haas, but only recently did he come out to talk more about what started the iconic partnerships, which are finally coming to a close.

Tony Stewart candid about his journey from JGR to Stewart Haas Racing

Gene Haas already had a racing company, Haas CNC Racing. And he had formed it in 2002. It ran well for a while and by 2008, they struggled to make it work. And this is when things turned for the better for them. Tony Stewart decided to join hands with the team and given that he was a big name—he had demands. He wanted 50% of the company’s stake and also to drive. But why would he, on the top of his career, decide on an already established team and go to one that’s currently struggling?

Almost all said it’s because Joe Gibbs Racing decided to switch from Chevrolet to Toyota and it happened in 2007, just a year back to his announcement. Moreover, he had himself been vocal about his loyalties with the sponsorships. But in a recent interview, Tony Stewart denied Toyota as the cause and instead shed light on the real reasons behind his departure and subsequent partnership with Gene Haas.

Tony Stewart said that, for sure, the change was stressful and demanded more responsibility. But he shouldered it because it’s not every day that a chance of being an owner of the team comes up. As far as driving goes, he said he wasn’t ready to retire as a driver and hence he continued to race for quite a while. 

He stated, “I did a year with Gibbs when they switched to Toyota. I had nothing against him [ Joe Gibbs] and I learned a lot from him about management, but an ownership opportunity doesn’t come along too often. Also, I wasn’t ready to retire as a driver – I mean I raced another seven years after the deal with Gene Haas.”

Significantly, he made the team so capable that they became a championship-building team. And he and Harvick even won the Cup championship with it. However, the mention of Toyota is also significant, as it reflects a crucial aspect of the shift that may have influenced Tony Stewart’s decision.

After joining them, he renamed it Stewart-Haas Racing and became one of the highest-paid NASCAR drivers. Right now, the team has come to a full circle moment, going back in time when the team had one owner- Gene Haas! As for the driver, an insider recently revealed the name.

Cole Custer is likely to lead rebranded Stewart Haas Racing in 2025

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Stewart Haas Racing is getting a fresh change, a new inning at NASCAR, and the driver they are probably and potentially choosing is also the one getting a second chance at the Cup Series—Cole Custer.

Cole Custer is likely to be the driver filling in for the sole charter for Gene Haas Factory Racing in 2025. Bob Pockrass gave this information in X, “Would be mildly surprised if Childers remains at SHR (and I don’t believe he is going to the 21) … and I would be mildly surprised if Cole Custer is not the driver of the Cup car for Haas Factory team.”

Cole Custer is going to be with the rebranded SHR yet again. He raced with SHR in the Cup Series from 2020 to 2021. But because of his lackluster performance towards the end and his disability to even make it to the playoffs, he was demoted to Xfinity. Ryan Preece later replaced him in the Cup Series.

And now, after getting his mantle after racing well in the Xfinity, he probably eyes a return to the team.

Moreover, there is also the factor that his father Joe Custer would be the president of the new team, hence making him an obvious tie. As we know, NASCAR and familial connections seem to go a long way!

What do you think–who will join the new team? Let us know!