NASCAR Fans Livid Over Media as Team Shoots Down Hoax Hours After ‘Shutting Down’ Rumor Went Viral

Tony Stewart stood before his Stewart-Haas Racing team and delivered the news no one wanted to hear. After nearly 16 seasons, 69 Cup Series wins, and two championships, SHR was shutting down at the end of 2024. The announcement hit hard. Stewart, visibly emotional, said the decision wasn’t made lightly. “Racing is a labor-intensive, humbling sport. It requires unwavering commitment and vast resources… we’ve reached a point where it’s time to pass the torch,” he admitted.

It was the end of a major chapter in NASCAR. Stewart had built SHR from the ground up after partnering with Gene Haas in 2009. He had brought the team its first win, its first title, and helped develop stars like Kevin Harvick and Chase Briscoe. But with dwindling sponsorship support and torrid results on the racetrack, the team finally decided to fold at the end of the 2024 campaign. And just like that, NASCAR’s Big 4 equation dwindled to Big 3, comprising Team Penske, JGR, and Hendrick Motorsports.

Now, almost a year later, another team seems to be heading down the same road as SHR. A rumor spread fast that Mike Harmon Racing (MHR) was shutting down after pulling out of the SciAps 300 at Bristol. Fans feared the worst, especially after a cryptic online reply from MHR’s account. But just hours after the rumor exploded across social media, MHR fired back. They weren’t closing—they were regrouping. However, fans still fear that it might be another SHR-style collapse.

A hoax sparks panic in the NASCAR garage!

Mike Harmon Racing caused a stir when they unexpectedly withdrew from the SciAps 300 at Bristol. With no warning and no public explanation, social media quickly lit up with speculation. The loudest rumor? MHR was done for good. An ARCA journalist fanned the flames by posting about the withdrawal, and MHR’s cryptic online response only added fuel. But by the time the garage chatter hit a fever pitch, the team finally broke their silence.

In a clear and pointed statement, MHR shut down the hoax. “Any rumors suggesting that MHR is closing operations are baseless and false. We decided to withdraw from Bristol as a strategic move to allow us to focus on next week’s race at Rockingham Speedway,” they wrote. MHR further doubled down, emphasizing that they’re “fully committed” to their fans, sponsors, and the Xfinity Series. The team vowed to be back on track next week with the #74 car, which has been shared by Dawson Cram and Carson Ware in 2025. But not everyone bought it.

One fan didn’t hold back, posting: “But for how long? It won’t change the fact that his car will always DNQ & has even less chance than MBM of making the field. Besides, never say never. Remember Stewart Haas announcing their shutdown after their whole ‘bold & unapologetic’ & ‘doubt us now?’ campaign?” The comparison was stinging but accurate. Tony Stewart and SHR had gone all-in on a rebrand after a winless 2023, promising a return to form.

They put out emotional messages, declared their identity, and rallied behind new drivers like Josh Berry and Chase Briscoe. But behind the noise, the team was unravelling—just like MHR might be. The warning is clear: public statements don’t always match reality. Notably, in the last couple of years, Mike Harmon Racing has battled financial instability. In 2023, the team rebranded as CHK Racing in a partnership aimed at bringing in more resources. But it collapsed.

Mike Harmon later claimed the promised support never came and that the team was left abandoned. He even alleged that sponsorships were siphoned off to other teams, deepening the crisis. On the track, the results reflected the chaos. The No. 74 car qualified for only seven races in 2023. They finished 47th in owner points. Despite a rotating cast of drivers like Casey Carden, Dawson Cram, and Kaden Honeycutt, the team couldn’t break through.

In 2024, MHR tried a reset by acquiring owner points from Richard Childress Racing’s No. 33. It was a smart move, meant to improve their odds of making the field and attracting sponsors. But racing is about more than numbers—it’s about consistency, and MHR still lacks it. For fans who’ve followed MHR’s gritty underdog story, the hoax was more than a rumor—it was a wake-up call.

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NASCAR Fans rally behind MHR’s revival in the Xfinity Series

The rumor may have been false, but fans had a lot to say about it—and their reactions show just how deeply people care about NASCAR’s underdog teams. One fan summed it up bluntly: “This happens too much in NASCAR where people just make stuff up and jump to conclusions.” They’re not wrong. In a sport fueled by rumor mills and Reddit threads, a single tweet can spark chaos. But when teams like MHR are already walking a tightrope, those rumors sting a little deeper.

Meanwhile, some fans celebrated the news turning out to be a hoax. “Mike is gonna go borrow a tank and hunt down the people spreading rumors,” joked one fan. Another user echoed the sentiments and said, “You can’t kill the man in black, or his race team. Time to go down to Applebee’s to celebrate.” Notably, MHR’s boss, Mike Harmon, has been known for his no-nonsense persona. His blunt responses and fiery comments have dominated headlines.

However, some fans also suggested MHR as a way to make a comeback. “They should just be more strategic about when they show up. Some races earlier this year would’ve had less than a full field without the 74,” a user posted. In the last seven Xfinity Series starts, the team hasn’t been able to qualify for four races and missed out on the Bristol outing. Now, it is worth noting that MHR doesn’t run a full-time schedule for their driver and has the luxury of picking races where they would compete. Given their streak of poor performances, this fan wanted them to take a methodical approach and identify events where they could better.

This isn’t the first time that Mike Harmon’s team hasn’t been able to make the field after qualifying runs. Back in 2023, they couldn’t make the cut and have a shot at competing in 15 races. A similar trend unfolded in 2024, where the team registered six DNQs. So, Harmon’s team has seen tough days, and fans feel that the team is likely to bounce back from their recent slump. “2023 couldn’t keep Harmon down, neither could 2024. He always finds a way.”

MHR isn’t just a backmarker team—they’re a symbol of perseverance. Fans remember their rare top 20 runs, their 2020 season highlights, and Harmon’s old-school commitment to the garage. They may not have the wins, but they have heart—and that still means something in NASCAR. And fans don’t want another Tony Stewart-like end in NASCAR.