“Smoke rises” learn the indicators adorning the limitations exterior the Stewart-Haas Racing haulers within the paddock at Phoenix.
Over the workforce’s 16-year historical past, there have been eras when that phrase has confirmed true, beginning with Smoke himself. Tony Stewart was already a two-time champion with Joe Gibbs Racing when he bought itchy toes – reportedly due to Gibbs’ imminent swap to Toyota, which clashed with Stewart’s loyalty to Chevrolet – and moved to Haas CNC Racing for 2009 in a deal that included his taking half possession of the workforce, then reborn as Stewart Haas Racing. He adopted the No. 14 as a homage to A.J. Foyt and gave the workforce – and new companion Gene Haas – their first win within the 2009 Dash All-Star race at Charlotte.
A correct points-scoring win adopted not lengthy after at Pocono, then further victories on the Coca-Cola 600, Watkins Glen and Kansas. Stewart completed his first yr as a workforce co-owner sixth within the factors.
The next season introduced a pair extra wins and a slight slide in total outcomes to seventh, however Stewart rebounded in 2011 with back-to-back wins at Chicagoland and New Hampshire, adopted by a scorching streak on the finish of the season to complete the final 4 races first, first, second and first, delivering Stewart his third profession title, and SHR its first.
Stewart’s outcomes started to drop off after that, and whereas teammate Ryan Newman added three victories to SHR’s tally throughout his personal five-year spell, his finest factors end with the workforce was ninth in 2009.
Teammates operating collectively at Martinsville en path to Newman’s highest championship end with SHR in 2009. Extra success was available with the subsequent vital rent, although… Brian Czobat/Motorsport Photos
Salvation got here within the type of Kevin Harvick, who landed at SHR for 2014 after splitting with Richard Childress Racing – a transfer that instantly delivered him his first championship, and SHR its second. (And its final on the Cup Collection degree, though Cole Custer added a Xfinity Collection title in 2023.)
Success grew to become extra sporadic over time that adopted, however it was by no means utterly out of attain. Chase Briscoe, the present custodian of what had been Stewart’s No. 14 entry, delivered the workforce’s sixty fifth win at Darlington this yr.
Smoke rises, however finally, smoke disperses. As outcomes grew to become tougher to attain, so did the sponsorships and producer help that underpin each profitable program. Smoke himself had already dispersed to a level as this yr started; his dash automobile groups and NHRA program filling rising quantity of area in each his schedule and his coronary heart that had beforehand been allotted to NASCAR. Then in Could, he introduced that Stewart Haas Racing will shut down on the finish of the yr. After Sunday’s race in Phoenix, the workforce itself – the haulers, the automobiles, teams of personnel that in some circumstances have labored side-by-side for over a decade – will disperse as properly.
“Could feels prefer it was simply the opposite day, actually, after we discovered the information. It’s loopy that we’re on the very finish, proper?” mentioned Briscoe who, barring one thing extraordinary taking place in Phoenix Sunday, will go down as SHR’s final race winner.
“To know that it’s all coming to an finish is certainly bittersweet. I used to be telling the fellows final weekend at Martinsville, the place we have been eight days away from the corporate actually locking the doorways, and we have been nonetheless capable of convey a automobile that, actually, ought to’ve sat on the pole. That’s only a testomony to all people, and it’s actually, actually cool and particular that they’ve continued to place in that effort given the circumstances.”
Briscoe, who bought his begin with SHR as an Xfinity Collection part-timer in 2018, is operating a plain black helmet this weekend, which has been emblazoned with messages and signatures from the remainder of his No. 14 workforce – a strategy to maintain all of them collectively earlier than he begins anew as Martin Truex Jr’s alternative at Gibbs subsequent yr.
In need of a finale win at Phoenix, Briscoe’s victory at Darlington may stand because the final for SHR. Motorsport Photos
“This complete season’s been actually cool, to get a win within the remaining season for SHR and to get the No. 14 automobile to at the very least the place it’s aggressive in its remaining season,” mentioned Briscoe. “That was actually necessary to me. I can’t consider it’s coming to an finish. It’s undoubtedly a tragic ending to all of it, and it’s undoubtedly going to be a troublesome weekend.”
Briscoe will head into the race because the highest-qualifying SHR driver, lining up twelfth on the grid.
Josh Berry made his debut with the workforce within the No. 4 this yr, and can transfer on to Wooden Brothers Racing in 2025. Going into Phoenix, his finest outcomes for Stewart-Haas have been a pair of third locations at Darlington and New Hampshire.
“I’m simply actually grateful for my time at SHR and the chance I bought to drive the No. 4 automobile and race within the Cup Collection,” he mentioned. “It was simply such a life-changing alternative for me. It’s been a problem at occasions, and it’s been a problem navigating by means of all of the change and what our futures are and every little thing that’s been occurring. However the actuality of that is it’s nonetheless unhappy as a result of there are a whole lot of nice folks, nice women and men at Stewart Haas Racing, tons and tons of nice folks all throughout the board that made that place what it’s and made it nice.”
Berry’s sentiments have been echoed by Noah Gragson, who can also be in his first season with SHR after splitting with Legacy Motor Membership throughout 2023.
“The individuals are an important factor, and with the ability to construct relationships with what have been as soon as strangers in January to close and pricey buddies at the moment – the folks we go to battle with each weekend,” mentioned Gragson, who has signed with Entrance Row Motorsports for subsequent yr. “It’s undoubtedly emotional. I’ve solely been there for lower than a yr, however on the similar time there have been guys who’ve been there for 20 years.
“To have the ability to see all people come collectively when Chase Briscoe received, that was large and highly effective and transferring for the corporate as an entire. It sparked a whole lot of pleasure underneath all people’s tails, and I’m simply extraordinarily grateful for the chance that Tony and Greg Zipadelli (chief competitors officer) gave me to have the ability to get again into the game, and to do it on the highest degree of the Cup Collection means the world to me. I’m tremendously grateful for that, tremendously grateful for the friendships and experiences and reminiscences that we’ve been capable of make over the previous yr. It’s allowed me to get again on my toes within the Cup Collection, and we’ve had some sturdy runs and it’s given me my confidence again. [ED: Gragson was suspended during 2023 for liking a racially insensitive social media post.]
“It’s undoubtedly going to be emotional at Phoenix when that checkered flag drops, and I’ve solely been there for a yr. I can’t think about what it’s like for different guys and gals who’ve been there for a for much longer time frame.”
Gragson’s redemption arc with SHR was reduce quick by the workforce’s impending closure, however a brand new pasture at Entrance Row Motorsports awaits. John Harrelson/Motorsport Photos
Ryan Preece is the one driver among the many present 4 who has not finalized his plans for 2025, though there may be hypothesis that he’s on RFK Racing’s radar. So far as he’s involved, ending sturdy in Phoenix is his fast precedence.
“What I respect essentially the most is my group of workforce members and that the fellows haven’t give up,” he mentioned. “They haven’t give up and I feel it’s proven. It’s constructed this thick pores and skin layer on us as a result of, whenever you have a look at late August, September, October, we’ve been sturdy. Have we been successful like we wish to be? No. I don’t suppose our firm is there. However I additionally suppose that we’ve persevered in occasions when all people’s identical to, ‘Properly, **** it, we’re transferring on to our subsequent deal.’
“Everyone right here mentioned, ‘We’ve bought 10 extra, we’ve bought eight extra, we’ve bought six extra, we’ve bought 4 extra.’ And to not simply be performed, however to attempt to end on a be aware that we’re pleased with. I feel that’s the factor that I take away most from being at this group, the group of people who we’ve been surrounded by, and the perseverance that all of them has. , wherever they find yourself going, no matter workforce, they’re going to be fortunate to have them as a result of they’ve taken a troublesome time and made essentially the most of it.
“So far as the workforce goes, I feel these are the folks that you really want round you whenever you go to conflict. You don’t need anyone that’s going to run and conceal. You need anyone who’s going to combat.”
SHR’s headquarters in Kannapolis, N.C. will likely be taken over by Haas Manufacturing facility Crew, which can retain one in all SHR’s present charters and a few of the present employees. The opposite three SHR charters are earmarked for 23XI Racing, Entrance Row Motorsports and Trackhouse Racing.
