From competing with each other to fighting for their future, the drivers, crew, and staff at Stewart-Haas Racing have seen it all since the team announced they would cease operations at the end of the 2024 season. The team is currently fielding four drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series: Josh Berry, Noah Gragson, Chase Briscoe, and Ryan Preece, and two drivers in the Xfinity Series: Cole Custer and Riley Herbst, which means more drivers are looking for a seat than there are spots available for next season.

With teammates competing for the same jobs, the dynamics within Stewart-Haas Racing have changed. The clouds of uncertainty loom over Stewart-Haas Racing’s drivers, crew, and staff, and despite the strong camaraderie, it’s clear that every person is for themselves in these testing circumstances.

Drivers, crew, and staff look at the bigger picture

While the news of Stewart-Haas Racing ceasing operations wasn’t a surprise, especially considering that Gene Haas is far more invested in Formula 1 and Tony Stewart is now an NHRA drag racer, it doesn’t make the situation any less sad. Over 300 employees associated with the team are now scrambling for work in 2025 and beyond. This has resulted in basic operations for the team becoming a lot more challenging, as employees are leaving in the ongoing season for a long-term and sustainable option elsewhere. But can you blame them?

Speaking about this situation, Chase Briscoe said, “I’d be lying if I said we’re not at a disadvantage when we show up to the racetrack. Every other team that we’re racing against, all they focus on week in and week out is how to make their race car go fast that weekend. At our place, we’re trying to figure out how we’re going to provide for our families next year, where we’re going to work next year, and on top of all of that, how am I going to get a fast race car to the racetrack? So, it’s 100% a real thing. It’s going to go in ebbs and flows.”

It has been a rough few months for the Stewart-Haas Racing team, losing sponsorship when Smithfield Foods exited NASCAR completely while Anheuser-Busch moved to Trackhouse Racing. The team has maintained that everyone involved in its operations is like family, yet they have had to deal with months of uncertainty and rumors surrounding the closure before the news became official on May 28th. With drivers fighting for their future in NASCAR, is there hope one of them could make it to the playoffs?

Can Stewart-Haas Racing have a fairytale ending?

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As things stand, Chase Briscoe is currently 17th in the points standings, the highest on the team, and in the best position to make it to the playoffs next year. He has also been at Stewart-Haas Racing the longest (four years) and has been the most outspoken about the team’s situation. Josh Berry is 23rd in his debut NASCAR Cup Series season, while Noah Gragson is 24th. Ryan Preece is the lowest-sitting Stewart-Haas Racing driver at 26th.

When asked if competing against fellow drivers has changed the dynamics, Chase Briscoe replied, “All four of us are competing for the same jobs, so we still want to help each other out, but it’s definitely probably become… not cutthroat, but we all know. We know that one of us is potentially going to get left out of a ride, or two of us, or whatever. So it has changed the dynamic a little bit.”

However, making it to the playoffs will be far from easy for Stewart-Haas Racing. With limited resources, low morale in the team as well, and key personnel leaving for greener and longer-term destinations, the team and drivers face an uphill task for the remainder of the season. If one of the drivers does make it to the playoffs, they will all but ensure a seat for themselves in the 2025 season, especially with Stewart-Haas Racing’s charters being sold. Given the circumstances, it will be nothing short of a fairytale story.

Do you think any of the Stewart-Haas Racing drivers will make it to the playoffs? Let us know in the comments.