Kevin Harvick has expressed some unconventional thoughts regarding the closure of SHR. The announcement of Stewart Haas Racing ending their Cup team operations after the 2024 season came as a shock to the NASCAR community. They plan to sell their three charters and reduce their workforce significantly.
However, recent news has revealed that one of the SHR charters will be retained and utilized by the Factory Haas Team, which will continue to field two cars in the Xfinity Series. This development has prompted former team driver Kevin Harvick to raise some intriguing questions.
Harvick has contemplated whether a disagreement between owners Tony Stewart and Gene Haas ultimately led to the team’s demise. He wonders if Stewart grew frustrated with his limited influence over the competition side of the team and made the decision to call it quits. Harvick cites instances such as SHR’s failure to secure signings of drivers Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson as examples where Stewart’s authority was questioned.
Expanding on his thoughts, Harvick also predicts that in 2025, Haas will revert back to their previous state before Stewart’s involvement. He anticipates that the Factory Haas Team venture will encounter difficulties similar to their past struggles, as he believes the legendary driver was the true catalyst for success at SHR.
Considering Harvick’s extensive knowledge of the team, his claims and doubts hold some credibility. It will be intriguing to see if Gene Haas can achieve success as a Cup team owner without the presence of Tony Stewart.