It is now official, that Stewart-Haas Racing will shut shop after the 2024 season. To be honest, it is a crying shame that the organization has fallen to such a state. This decision also means that all four of their drivers will be left hanging and desperately hunting for a seat. Each driver is talented, and the ongoing season has effectively turned into an audition.

The organization’s tenure was relatively short-lived, having lasted since 2002. However, during that period, they stormed to two Cup Series titles, courtesy of Tony Stewart in 2011 and Kevin Harvick in 2014. Aside from that, the team has notched up 69 Cup Series wins out of a grand total of 98 across all three series. What makes matters even more heart-breaking, is that the Xfinity Series team could be affected as well. In other words, Riley Herbst and Cole Custer may have a cause to be very worried.

Many sympathize with the Stewart-Haas Racing drivers

Of course, there was an outpouring of shock and sadness at the news. However, most of it was aimed at Chase Briscoe, Josh Berry, Noah Gragson, and Ryan Preece. Both Berry and Gragson are in their first seasons with the team, and it is now going to be their last one. One fan lamented, “Be a damn shame if they bail completely just after Gragson and Berry land somewhere and start doing well. Briscoe was also starting to come back around.”

Some even hoped that even after the dissolution, the quartet gain some employment elsewhere. Someone mused, “Wow, this is disheartening to learn for the drivers. I pray that if they disband SHR, that they have some good options for the guys that are part of the organization”. Another said, “This kinda hurts but im hopeful JR can come in and take the charters”.

There was also a fair bit of anger towards Tony Stewart and Gene Haas

While the drivers earned sympathies, the same could not be said for the team co-owners, Tony Stewart and Gene Haas. According to some, the owners have been pretty distracted by other passions and SHR fell by the wayside. One accusation stated, “They have been going downhill for years. Haas more focus on F1. And Tony focused more on SRX and now drag racing”. Another bemoaned, “That’s sad. Tony seems to be loving NHRA much more than NASCAR. I feel bad for the drivers and crews of SHR. They deserve better #forgotten”.

Finally, a few fans leveled some fairly serious accusations against the two owners. One person even stated, “Stewart and Haas do not care about the fans or employees”. With the dissolution impending, there will also be questions about what will happen to the four charters in 2025. Unfortunately, that is the way the cookie crumbles, so we will just have to see the team run its final few races in the NASCAR Cup Series.