Tony Stewart has been in an internal battle with his partner, Gene Haas, over the choice of a driver for the #41 Team in 2024. In a recent development, a prominent NASCAR insider has shown support for Tony Stewart in retaining his driver for the #41 Ford.

NASCAR teams are like well-oiled machines, but the key decisions behind the scenes can sometimes lead to intense disagreements. Stewart found himself in a situation where his vision clashed with that of Gene Haas. Stewart was determined to keep Ryan Preece in the driver’s seat for another season with Stewart-Haas Racing. Despite a season that didn’t meet everyone’s expectations, Stewart stood by Preece.

Bob Pockrass agrees with Tony Stewart in giving another opportunity to Ryan Preece

On the GoPRNLive show, Fox Sports Insider Bob Pockrass discussed Tony Stewart’s commitment to Ryan Preece. Pockrass acknowledged that Preece’s performance this year might not have been stellar, but he pointed out that other drivers on the team had faced similar challenges.

Brett McMillan asked Bob, “Ryan Preece has said that he will be back with Stuart Haas next year and he was a guy that kind of… it was that was a little battle between Tony Stewart and Gene Haas as to who was going to be in that car this year and that was a battle that Tony Stewart won but I don’t know that he’s lived up the Preece has lived up to expectations Bob.”

“No,” started Bob. “But I think you would say that Aric Almirola probably didn’t live up to expectations this year. Chase Briscoe didn’t live up to expectations this year. And you [can] probably argue that Kevin Harvick… he made the playoffs. But your expectation for him would be to win a race and so far he hasn’t won one.

“So, I would think that you know, Preece certainly deserves another year to show what he can do. To show what he has… kind of learned about their systems and about their cars to, you know, for next season you have both the Fords and the Toyotas will have tweaks to their bodies for next year. So, you probably want to see what he can do… see if they’ve improved what they have for that.”

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Beyond the on-track battles, NASCAR also celebrates its rich history and pop culture influences. Stewart-Haas Racing recently announced a unique tribute for the upcoming race at Talladega Superspeedway in store for the race day.

SHR’s nostalgic throwback will be on display this Sunday

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Stewart-Haas Racing partnered with Wonder Bread and Old Spice for a race that’s sure to bring back fond memories for many. They’ve recreated iconic liveries from the 2006 sports comedy, Talladega Nights, adding a nostalgic touch to the race.

According to Motorsport.com, Ryan Preece expressed his excitement, “Talladega Nights is one movie that most people have seen and laughed with, and these really cool paint schemes will bring back those memories,” said Preece in a release from the team.

“Getting to have my teammate, Chase Briscoe, in the Old Spice car makes it all come together. The movie remains relevant after all these years, and there’s no better track than Talladega to work with your teammates. We’re going to have a lot of fun this weekend and I hope we get the No. 41 Wonder Bread Ford Mustang in victory lane.”

His teammate, Chase Briscoe, also shared his enthusiasm, as he noted, “Talladega Nights is one of my all-time favorite movies, and I’m really glad that Old Spice was on board to come back to Stewart-Haas Racing.”

Are you excited about SHR’s new paint scheme for Talladega? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

READ MORE: Luckless Tony Stewart Handed Rare Moment of Happiness Amidst SHR’s Questionable Future