Stewart-Haas Racing Shutting Down at Season’s End

What’s Happening

The day that many expected but few yearned for has come. Stewart-Haas Racing has announced through a joint-statement from co-owners Tony Stewart and Gene Haas that the team is shutting down at the end of the season. The statement can be read in full below.

A joint statement from Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, the co-owners of Stewart-Haas Racing, regarding the future of our team following the 2024 season. pic.twitter.com/S9hkjnTNXi

— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) May 28, 2024

• Stewart-Haas Racing has reportedly been in trouble for a while now. Multiple reports have indicated that SHR’s contract with Ford ends at the conclusion of 2024, and no plans were made to renew it. That, combined with SHR’s recent dip in performance (Winless since 2022), made many question the organization’s future.
• Bob Pockrass reports that SHR’s charters are rumored to be heading to Front Row, Trackhouse, and 23XI (one each), with the fourth charter still unclaimed. This comes amidst a Jordan Bianchi report that NASCAR could limit teams to 3 cars per team beginning in 2025.
• Fans are sad at the announcement that SHR is leaving the sport entirely. Many were fans of SHR specifically, and, now, the team is no more.

Where Do the CHarters Go?

Bob Poockrass reports that three of the charters be sold to 3 different teams, with Trackhouse, Front Row Motorsports, and 23XI Racing all buying one each. The fourth charter is up for grabs, and Legacy Motor Club, RFK Racing, and JTG-Daugherty Racing are all interested in expanding, even if this may not be the charter they purchase according to Pockrass.

Sources indicate Front Row, 23XI and Trackhouse will each obtain one of the SHR charters. The fourth is more unclear. Legacy, RFK and JTG have all indicated interest in expanding but I do not expect them to be in play for any of the SHR charters (and JRM is not as well). https://t.co/QWY5tEqP82

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 28, 2024

Why would teams like Front Row, 23XI, and Trackhouse not buy two charters? Jordan Bianchi reported last week that NASCAR is considering dropping the number of cars a team can own from four cars to three.

That means only one charter would cause 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and Trackhouse to reach NASCAR’s potential new limit. It’s unclear at the moment what each team will do with their new charters, but, there are some possible theories.

23XI Racing might open a third car for a hot Toyota prospect like Corey Heim or Chandler Smith. Front Row Motorsports now has two open seats, and they’re an easy candidate to land two of SHR’s 4 free agents. Trackhouse needs an extra seat to bring in Zane Smith, so, this could fix that problem.

However, we do not know any of this for certain yet.

What Does This Mean for the Drivers?

This means all four SHR drivers will be free agents at the end of the season. Where they all go is a mystery, but, there are plenty of open seats for them.

Front Row Motorsports is one likely landing spot. They’re a tier-one Ford team, and if Ford wants to keep these drivers, Front Row could be an ideal place for them to land.

The Wood Brothers is another place for SHR drivers to look at with Harrison Burton’s uncertain future. They are also a Ford team aligned with Team Penske, but The Wood Brothers is not a “Tier One” team. Either way, this could be another good landing spot for SHR drivers.

That’s only three seats, however, and that means at least one Cup Series driver is left to look elsewhere plus Cole Custer and Riley Herbst in the Xfinity Series. They may have to wait until Silly Season further develops.

What do you think? Stay tuned right here to the Daily Downforce for more on this and everything else going on in the NASCAR world.