“Tony [Stewart] Definitely Deserves It”- Angry Fans Trash SHR Boss Amidst Kevin Harvick’s Throwing Shade at Former Owner

Tony Stewart‘s been a bit scarce around his NASCAR team these days. Back in 2008, he shook things up by leaving his old NASCAR crew to co-own Stewart-Haas Racing. While he hung up his full-time racing gloves in 2016, Stewart hasn’t exactly been kicking back and relaxing. With Kevin Harvick on his team, he felt confident enough to step back a bit. However, instead of winding down, it looks like Stewart’s just ramping up.

And then after tying the knot with Leah Pruett, he declared in 2021 that Tony Stewart Racing would dive into the NHRA, even fielding entries for his new bride. Now, he’s behind the wheel himself in NHRA races, filling in for his wife Pruett who is trying to conceive this year. That has meant that he’s not as present at the NASCAR races, where his quartet of drivers compete. But has this been the situation only since 2021, or has it been the case for longer? Kevin Harvick’s sly remarks suggest it might be the latter.

Was Kevin Harvick not happy with the SHR owner not paying attention to his team?

Just recently, when Tyler Reddick clinched a win at Talladega, Michael Jordan was right there, celebrating as if he’d been behind the wheel himself. That’s the trend, right? Whether it’s Joe Gibbs or Rick Hendrick, team owners usually show up at the track, standing proudly beside their drivers during those trophy-lifting moments. This boosts team morale like nothing else. But Tony Stewart’s playbook seems a bit different. Juggling multiple projects, from NHRA racing to managing other series, leaves him little to no time to attend NASCAR races.

Meanwhile, his NASCAR team, Stewart-Haas Racing, has had a bit of a rough patch. They haven’t seen victory in the last 97 Cup races as they head into the All-Star race at North Wilkesboro. At a time like this, his team could really use his presence and support. However, Stewart seems to prefer the thrill of racing himself over watching from the sidelines. Kevin Harvick, feeling the strain, recently brought this issue to light, hinting at the need for Stewart’s increased involvement.

Kevin Harvick, who was associated with SHR for quite a while, is currently stepping in for Kyle Larson, handling practice runs and qualifying while Larson focuses on Indy 500 preparations. Amidst this, during a media session, Harvick shared his observations on the differences in organizational engagement between HMS and SHR. He remarked, “I mean I heard from the owner twice in two weeks so that’s different,“ indicating that Tony Stewart’s involvement with his NASCAR Cup team has been minimal. Well, that is something that can pi*s Tony Stewart off!

However, his apparent lack of presence raises questions about Stewart’s priorities, particularly owing to his increased focus on his NHRA team, where he spends more time alongside co-owners Antron Brown and Ron Capps. His deeper involvement with NHRA could be influenced by personal connections like Kelly Antonelli, who has significant experience with major racing teams, including John Force Racing, and has recently joined TSR. And it seems the family atmosphere Stewart sees in the NHRA is lost in other forms like NASCAR. Crews hanging out, grilling out, and eating together doesn’t seem to be the norm in other motorsports.

Plus, the shift also highlights a stark contrast in owner engagement that Harvick clearly feels, hinting at a possible reason behind the challenges SHR has been facing in NASCAR. Tony Stewart’s SHR Cup team has been struggling, and with rumors swirling about a potential charter sale, it seems he’s become even more detached from the NASCAR side of things. And that is why Kevin Harvick’s concerns about this lack of engagement are completely justified. Yet, from Stewart’s point of view, his decisions might still make sense, as he has to focus on his NHRA races as well. However, for fans, the situation tends to be seen in more stark terms—it’s either all good or all bad.

NASCAR fans have been critical of Tony Stewart for his absence at Cup races

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While it’s understandable that Stewart is juggling multiple commitments—from supporting his wife Leah Pruett and competing in NHRA to managing a struggling Cup team—fans feel that an owner’s presence at the track boosts driver morale.

One fan pointed out, “I have said it before but the winning teams owners are just about always at the track. 80 year old Gibbs and filthy rich Jeff Gordon seem to be there every weekend. And look at their track records this year.“ Another added, “Roger Penske only misses Cup races for IndyCar races or major events one of his other teams is participating in. Rare is the weekend The Captain isn’t at a race track of some kind.”

Another chimed in with an example of a committed owner, “And 70something year old Rick Hendrick who just had his knee replaced will be at the track before either Gene or Tony are.”

And on comparing Stewart’s attendance with other owners, a fan noted, “MJ is around more than Tony is.“ Some even highlighted the perceived disinterest from Stewart-Haas Racing’s owners, with one remarking, “Subtitle proof that Tony and Gene stopped caring.”

Kevin Harvick’s subtle jab at Stewart also didn’t go unnoticed, with a fan commenting, “Nice jab to Tony Stewart from Harvick. Tony definitely deserves it too with how much he doesn’t care about nascar or his own nascar team anymore.”

Do you think it matters for the drivers to see their owners at the races? Or is Stewart on the spot just because SHR isn’t performing well right now?