After what seemed like months of uncertainties and speculations Stewart-Haas Racing is nearing the end of its iconic saga. Slated to close shop at the end of 2024, team owners Tony Stewart and Gene Haas are not only exiting NASCAR, but also leaving hundreds of its employees jobless. With reports of many already leaving the organization or planning to do so, in the coming months, the ones who seem jeopardized the most are the team’s drivers, with less than a year left for them to secure seats elsewhere.

And perhaps this would lead many to assume the onset of bad-blood between the team owners and their racers. However, contrary to popular belief, there’s no war waging within the garage, which was further reiterated by the team’s new recruit, Noah Gragson‘s words.

“Throws a wrench,” Noah Gragson hopeful despite setback

#10 racer Noah Gragson’s NASCAR journey has been far from smooth, to say the least. While he was initially picked up full-time, by Legacy Motor Club in 2023, liking a racially insensitive post on social media last year rendered him without a team and facing suspension, after just 21 races in the Cup Series. However, fate decided on smile on the young racer as Tony Stewart’s SHR gave him a chance the next year. But the recent situation has put him essentially back to square one.

However, the 25-year-old driver remains hopeful. On 1 June, in an interview with Frontstretch about SHR’s difficult decision, he shared, “It’s definitely challenging. Probably throws a wrench into what we thought in January. I’ve been through my fair share of adversity and challenges in life. That being said, it’s just another step in the process.”

He also shared his gratitude for being included in the team, sharing a snippet of a conversation he had with his team owner: “I told Tony,’ I’m extremely grateful and thankful for you taking a chance on me and giving me an opportunity to reinvent myself. Regroup myself, and if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be in this position, looking for opportunities.”

During the interview he also shared the realization of things coming to an end for SHR and what it means. “We kind of knew it was coming right for the last couple months. But it’s another thing to finally hear it and you know just see  the impact on people’s lives and people that are close to me. They have been there for 15 plus years so you know just the reality kind of setting into for them that I’m not going to go to work here anymore at the end of the year.”

Looking for a new team next season, Gragson has put up some decent performances. He has notched up five top-10 results in 14 starts this season, including a best result of third at Talladega in April. As such, he may not be short of options at the end of the season. In fact, NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass has said that Gragson will likely have Cup team options come next season.

In his story for Fox Sports, Pockrass mentioned, “support from Bass Pro Shops, potentially could give him Cup options either at Front Row Motorsports or other teams.”

Welcoming Gragson with open arms, Stewart had shown immense belief in his talents back despite his controversy, saying, “Noah deserves to be in the NASCAR Cup Series and we’re very happy to have him as the driver of our No. 10 Ford Mustang. Noah has performed at every level where he’s competed and has regularly been in championship contention. That’s the kind of driver we need at Stewart-Haas and that’s why Noah is a part of our team.” 

Well, at the time, it did seem like a match made in heaven. More so, because after the exit of the team’s star driver, Kevin Hervick (with big named sponsors including Anheuser-Busch and Hunt Brother’s Pizza), SHR was finally showing some renewed vigor and an insatiable hunger to turn their fortunes around. But all that has come to a grinding halt.

SHR will be selling four of its charters with Front Row Motorsports, 23XI Racing and Trackhouse Racing lining up to buy three of them. For Gragson and other drivers the future is uncertain but for now the Nevada-native is focused on what he can do.

Gragson unsure of what lies ahead but focused on what “I can control”

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Like the rest of his team, Noah Gragson’s future is also up in the air. Like any other racer, he would also love to drive for one of the big teams in Tier 1. However, it seems, the uncertain future is not giving him sleepless nights just yet! Reiterating yet again how thankful he is to his current team, Gragson shared some insights on his future plans.

“I wouldn’t say there’s much bitterness in me, personally,” he revealed, while adding, “I’m extremely grateful that Stewart-Haas, they gave me an opportunity to go out there. We are looking for an opportunity to go up and win races in the Cup Series next year. Where that home will be, I’m not sure yet.”

But one thing is clear in No. 10’s mind: The need for consistency. “All I can do is stick to the fundamentals of things and keep focusing on what I can control. That’s myself, my emotions, the race team, and going out there and trying to compete every single week,” he shared.

Now that the SHR team is going defunct, all four drivers on the team know their jobs well. To explain a bit more clearly, Noah Gragson, Josh Berry, Ryan Preece, and Chase Briscoe will treat the remaining races as an audition. Their mission will be twofold: to give Stewart-Haas Racing the send-off that it deserves and to gain the attention of a new team. Do you think they’ll be able to do it?