“There’s Gonna Be Some Guys Out of Jobs” – Brett Griffin Insinuates Tony Stewart’s Massive Driver Linup Change Likely Misfired

Talent over privilege—that’s one notion NASCAR Nation has always stood by. While there is a distressing trend of drivers buying their way into the organization’s top division, there’s another alarming trend on the rise. The inability of drivers to finish the race or their incompetence to enhance their position in NASCAR’s top-tier division Recently, Kaulig Racing spotter and popular NASCAR enthusiast Brett Griffin exposed the precarious situation of Tony Stewart and his team.

Except for veteran Kevin Harvick, who bids farewell to the sport this year, the rest of the SHR drivers have clearly struggled to finish in the top 10. Reacting to Ryan Preece’s 2023 season, the spotter had some strong words for the driver, pointing out Stewart’s inept decision to replace Cole Custer and bring in Preece as a full-time Cup Series driver.

Brett Griffin uncovers Stewart’s unfruitful decision to replace Cole Custer

2023 certainly hasn’t been the best for Ford-partnered Stewart-Haas Racing. With seven top 10s out of 12 coming from the veteran, Harvick, things certainly aren’t up to par. Except for the veteran, Ryan Preece and Chase Briscoe have been struggling to get a move on this season.

While NASCAR’s hefty penalties strapped Briscoe’s #14 team for modified parts, SHR has now become the first team to receive L3 penalties. This, however, had startling repercussions, dropping him from 17th further down the ditch to 31st in the standings. Taking away his playoff chances. On the other hand, his teammate, Ryan Preece, who replaced Cole Custer as a full-timer in the team, has also been struggling to find the right footing.

“I mean you can’t race points, you can’t go 20-plus races and not score a top 10, I mean I talked about last year when they made this change,” said Griffin. He also stated how Cole Custer and Preece are similar on paper, with almost identical track records. Griffin knows Preece on a personal level, mentioning him as a “good driver.”

READ MORE: “It’s a Lot of Money” – Kyle Larson Has Eyes on Tony Stewart’s Wealth as He Shoots a 10-Word Warning to Every Competitor

Reflecting on Preece’s rich experience racing modified cars, Griffin said, “Ryan’s a good dude, Ryan is a very good race car driver, I think he belongs at the Cup level.”

Numbers don’t lie! – Is Tony Stewart’s team staring into the abyss?

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With veteran Harvick announcing his retirement from the sport this season and #10 Aric Almirola‘s skeptical stance, it seems to have brought the team into a dire situation. While they brought in the super-sub Josh Berry as “happy” Harvick’s replacement. Things still don’t add up.

Preece and Briscoe certainly have a tough task at hand. Following the aforementioned penalty ruining the #14 driver’s playoff chances, the proud Ford camp is certainly on rough seas here. Moreover, from a fan’s perspective, it looks like Stewart’s team has been too dependent on Harvick, as the numbers don’t lie. With seven of their 12 top-10 finishes coming from the #4 driver’s hands, Tony Stewart and Gene Haas certainly need a rejig.

Though Tony Stewart is often lauded for his straight-to-the-point attitude, the 3 time Cup Series champ faced quite a bit of backlash when he made an ironic “nepotism” rant, mentioning he needs proper drivers and not some rich kid buying their way into the fray using their dad’s money.

While things may seem dire for Stewart Haas Racing, the arrival of Josh Berry will hopefully boost the morale of its drivers and end their slumber.

WATCH THIS STORY: This surprising contender could potentially replace Aric Almirola in Tony Stewart’s team