Stewart–Haas Racing facts for kids
 |
|
| Owner(s) | Tony Stewart Gene Haas |
|---|---|
| Base | Kannapolis, North Carolina |
| Series | NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR Xfinity Series |
| Manufacturer | Chevrolet (2009–2016) Ford (2017–2024) |
| Opened | 2009 |
| Closed | 2024 |
| Career | |
| Debut | Cup Series: 2009 Daytona 500 (Daytona) Xfinity Series: 2017 PowerShares QQQ 300 (Daytona) Camping World Truck Series: 2014 Kroger 250 (Martinsville) ARCA Menards Series: 2021 Clean Harbors 100 at The Glen (Watkins Glen) ARCA Menards Series West: 2018 Carneros 200 (Sonoma) |
| Latest race | Cup Series: 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race (Phoenix) Xfinity Series: 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race (Phoenix) Camping World Truck Series: 2014 Lucas Oil 150 (Phoenix) ARCA Menards Series: 2021 Clean Harbors 100 at The Glen (Watkins Glen) ARCA Menards Series West: 2023 General Tire 200 (Sonoma) |
| Races competed | Total: 784 Cup Series: 508 Xfinity Series: 263 Camping World Truck Series: 9 ARCA Menards Series: 1 ARCA Menards Series West: 3 |
| Drivers' Championships | Total: 3 Cup Series: 2 2011, 2014 Xfinity Series: 1 2023 |
| Race victories | Total: 102 Cup Series: 70 Xfinity Series: 29 Camping World Truck Series: 1 ARCA Menards Series West: 2 |
| Pole positions | Total: 79 Cup Series: 54 Xfinity Series: 22 Camping World Truck Series: 2 ARCA Menards Series West: 1 |
Stewart–Haas Racing was a professional stock car racing team in America. It competed in the top NASCAR series, the NASCAR Cup Series, and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The team was co-owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, who founded Haas Automation.
The team started in 2009. Stewart joined Haas, buying half of the team and combining it with the older Haas CNC Racing team. Stewart–Haas Racing closed down permanently at the end of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.
The team was based in Kannapolis, North Carolina. This is about 10 miles (16 km) north of Charlotte Motor Speedway. Their sister team, Haas F1 Team, which races in Formula One, is also based there.
From 2009 to 2016, the team used Chevrolet engines and chassis from Hendrick Motorsports. In 2017, they switched to Ford engines from Roush-Yates Engines. They also started building their own chassis.
Stewart–Haas Racing won races in all three major NASCAR touring series. Only a few other teams, like Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing, have achieved this.
On May 28, 2024, the team announced it would close after the 2024 season. On June 20, Gene Haas shared that he kept one of the team's four charters. He reorganized the team as Haas Factory Team for 2025.
Contents
Team History and Achievements
On July 10, 2008, it was announced that Tony Stewart would join the team. He became a driver and owner for the 2009 season, getting 50% of the team. Stewart had been with Joe Gibbs Racing but wanted to race for Chevrolet again. Gene Haas wanted Stewart to drive for his team. He hoped Stewart would attract sponsors and talented people.
The team combined with Haas CNC Racing and was renamed Stewart–Haas Racing. They signed many top sponsors and experienced staff. Their partnership with Hendrick Motorsports also became stronger.
After using General Motors cars for years, the team switched to Ford for the 2017 season. They started getting engines from Roush-Yates Engines. The team also restarted its program in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
On August 2, 2022, Stewart–Haas Racing announced some leadership changes. President Brett Frood stepped down to lead the National Lacrosse League. He remained an advisor to SHR. Brian McKinley became chief commercial officer, and Greg Zipadelli became chief competition officer. Joe Custer continued as co-president.
On May 28, 2024, Stewart announced that Stewart-Haas Racing would close its Cup and Xfinity Series teams after the 2024 season. This meant 323 jobs were lost. One charter was sold to Front Row Motorsports. Another went to Trackhouse Racing for their No. 88 car. On June 20, Gene Haas confirmed he would keep one charter. He reorganized the team as Haas Factory Team, with Joe Custer as president. The new team also kept SHR’s two Xfinity Series entries.
NASCAR Cup Series Drivers
Car No. 4: Drivers and Wins
- Ryan Newman (2009–2013)
The No. 4 car started as the No. 39 car. In 2009, Ryan Newman had a strong season. He nearly won at Talladega, finishing third. He also finished fourth at Richmond. Newman made the playoffs but did not win a race that year. He had 15 top-10 finishes and ended up ninth in points.
In 2010, Newman won his first race for the team at Phoenix. This was the first time a No. 39 car won in NASCAR history. In 2011, Newman won again at New Hampshire. He and Stewart finished first and second, a great achievement for SHR. Newman made the playoffs and finished 10th.
In 2012, Newman won early in the season at Martinsville Speedway. However, he missed the playoffs and finished 14th. In 2013, Newman won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis. He was the second Indiana native, after Stewart, to win this race. Newman was later added to the playoffs after another team faced penalties. He left the team after 2013.
- Kevin Harvick (2014–2023)
Kevin Harvick joined SHR in 2014, driving the new No. 4 Chevrolet. He won his second race with the team at Phoenix. He also won at Darlington. Harvick made the playoffs and won at Charlotte. He then won the last two races of the year at Phoenix and Homestead. This secured his first Cup Series Championship for SHR.
Harvick continued to be very strong in 2015. He had 28 top-10 finishes and three wins. He finished second in the championship by just one point. In 2016, Harvick won four races and finished eighth in points.
In 2017, SHR switched to Ford. Harvick won two races and finished third in points. His 2018 season was even better, with a career-high eight wins. He made it to the Championship 4, the final round of the playoffs. He finished third in the points standings.
Harvick started 2019 with a win in a qualifying race at Daytona. He had a consistent season with five wins, including his second Brickyard 400 victory. He made the Championship 4 for the fifth time in six years.
In 2020, Harvick won nine races, the most of any driver that year. He also won the Regular Season Championship. However, he did not make the Championship 4 and finished fifth in points.
Harvick did not win in 2021 but was very consistent. He made the playoffs and reached the Round of 12. He finished fifth in the final standings.
In 2022, Harvick ended a 65-race winless streak by winning at Michigan. He won again the next week at Richmond. He was eliminated in the Round of 16. His team faced a penalty for a rule violation later in the season.
On January 12, 2023, Harvick announced he would retire after the 2023 season. He made the playoffs in his final year. He finished his Cup Series career with a seventh-place finish at Phoenix and 13th in the points standings.
- Josh Berry (2024)
On June 21, 2023, SHR signed Josh Berry to replace Harvick in the No. 4 car for 2024. Berry had a season-best third-place finish at Darlington and New Hampshire.
Car No. 10: Drivers and Wins
- Danica Patrick (2012–2017)
The No. 10 car was first used by Tommy Baldwin Racing in 2011. In August 2011, Danica Patrick announced she would race full-time in NASCAR. Stewart–Haas and Tommy Baldwin Racing worked together. Patrick drove 10 races in 2012, with her best finish of 17th at Phoenix.
Patrick joined Stewart–Haas Racing full-time in 2013. She made history by winning the pole position for the Daytona 500. She was the first woman to do so. She also led laps and finished eighth in the race. Patrick struggled in other races, finishing 27th in points.
Patrick continued to race the No. 10 car in 2014 and 2015. She achieved her career-best finish of sixth place at Atlanta in 2014. In 2015, her main sponsor, GoDaddy, announced they would leave the team. Patrick continued to struggle in 2016, with no top-10 finishes. In January 2017, her new sponsor, Nature's Bakery, pulled out. Patrick was released from the team after the 2017 season.
- Aric Almirola (2018–2023)
Aric Almirola took over the No. 10 car in 2018. His performance was much better than in previous years. He won his first race for the team at Talladega. Almirola made the playoffs and finished fifth in points, his best career result.
In 2019, Almirola had a consistent start but did not win a race. He made the playoffs but was eliminated early. He finished 14th in points.
On January 10, 2022, Almirola announced he would retire after the 2022 season. However, he later changed his mind and continued to drive the No. 10 in 2023. On October 28, 2023, Almirola announced he would not return to SHR in 2024.
- Noah Gragson (2024)
On December 13, 2023, SHR announced that Noah Gragson would drive the No. 10 car for the 2024 season. Gragson started the season with a ninth-place finish at the Daytona 500. His team received a penalty for a rule violation at Atlanta. He later achieved a career-best third-place finish at Talladega.
Car No. 14: Drivers and Wins
- Tony Stewart (2009–2016)
For the 2009 season, the team switched to the No. 14 car. Co-owner Tony Stewart became the driver. The number 14 was chosen to honor Stewart's racing hero, A. J. Foyt. Stewart won the 2009 All-Star Race, which was the first win for Gene Haas. A few weeks later, Stewart earned the team's first points-paying win at Pocono Raceway. He also won at Daytona, Watkins Glen, and Kansas. He finished sixth in points.
Stewart had a slow start in 2010 but recovered to win two races. He made the playoffs and finished seventh in points. In 2011, Stewart had a challenging start to the season. However, he won five races during the final 10-race playoff stretch. This allowed him to win the team's first Cup Series Championship. He tied Carl Edwards in points but won because he had more victories. This made Stewart the only NASCAR driver to win championships under three different series names.
Stewart started 2012 strong with three wins early in the season. He won at Las Vegas, Fontana, and Daytona. He finished ninth in the points standings.
In 2013, Stewart got a new main sponsor, Bass Pro Shops. He won a race at Dover. On August 5, Stewart broke his right leg in a sprint car accident. He missed the rest of the season. Other drivers, including Max Papis and Austin Dillon, filled in for him. Mark Martin drove most of the remaining races.
On September 30, 2015, Stewart announced he would retire after the 2016 season. Clint Bowyer took over his car in 2017. In 2016, Stewart was injured again before the Daytona 500. Brian Vickers and Ty Dillon drove the car for him. Stewart returned to racing at Richmond. He later won at Sonoma Raceway, ending an 84-race winless streak. He was eliminated from the playoffs early.
- Clint Bowyer (2017–2020)
Bowyer had a tough first year with SHR in 2017, finishing 18th in points. In 2018, his performance improved greatly. He won two races at Martinsville and Michigan. He had nine top-five finishes and made the playoffs. He finished 12th in points.
Bowyer did not win in 2019 but was consistent enough to make the playoffs again. He finished ninth in the points standings. In 2020, Bowyer remained winless but used his consistency to make the playoffs. He was eliminated in the Round of 12.
On October 8, 2020, Bowyer announced he would retire from full-time driving after the 2020 season. He became a commentator for NASCAR on Fox.
- Chase Briscoe (2021–2024)
On October 20, 2020, Stewart–Haas Racing announced that Chase Briscoe would replace Bowyer in the No. 14 car for 2021. This was a promotion from the team's Xfinity Series program. In his first season, Briscoe had three top-10 finishes and was named the 2021 NASCAR Rookie of the Year.
Briscoe won his first Cup Series race at Phoenix on March 13, 2022. He led 101 laps to earn his first victory. He became the 200th different driver to win a Cup Series race. Briscoe was eliminated after the Round of 8 in the playoffs.
Briscoe started the 2023 season with a crash at the Daytona 500. His team received a penalty for a rule violation after the Charlotte race.
Briscoe started the 2024 season with a 10th-place finish at the Daytona 500. He ended a 73-race winless streak by winning the Southern 500, which helped him make the playoffs.
Car No. 41: Drivers and Wins
- Kurt Busch (2014–2018)
The No. 41 car was the fourth and last team added to Stewart–Haas Racing. It started in 2014. On August 26, 2013, Kurt Busch announced he would drive the car. Gene Haas sponsored the car through his company, Haas Automation. The team bought the No. 41's charter from the now-closed Michael Waltrip Racing.
In only his sixth race with the team, Busch won at Martinsville on March 30, 2014. He made the 2014 playoffs but was eliminated in the first round.
Busch was suspended at the start of the 2015 season while an investigation took place. Regan Smith drove the No. 41 car for the first three races. Busch's suspension was lifted on March 11, and he returned to racing. He won his second victory in the No. 41 at Richmond. He won again at Michigan in June. Busch made the playoffs and finished eighth in points.
In October 2015, Busch signed a new contract with SHR. For 2016, Monster Energy became a main sponsor. Busch's only win in 2016 was at Pocono Raceway. He finished seventh in the final standings.
Busch started 2017 by winning his first Daytona 500. This was also SHR's first Daytona 500 win and their first win with Ford. This was Busch's only win in 2017. He finished 14th in points. He ended a 58-race winless streak by winning the Bristol night race in 2018. Busch made it to the Round of 8 in the playoffs. He finished seventh in points. On December 2, 2018, Busch announced he would not return to SHR in 2019.
- Daniel Suárez (2019)
.jpg)
On January 7, 2019, Stewart-Haas Racing announced that Daniel Suárez would drive the No. 41 car for the 2019 season. Suárez struggled to get top finishes and did not make the playoffs. On November 14, 2019, Suárez announced he would leave the team.
- Cole Custer (2020–2022)
.jpg)
On November 15, 2019, Stewart-Haas Racing announced that Cole Custer would replace Suárez in the No. 41 Ford for 2020. Custer had worked with his crew chief, Mike Shiplett, in the Xfinity Series. After a slow start, Custer finished fifth at Indianapolis. The following week, he won his first career Cup Series race at Kentucky. He made an amazing four-wide pass for the lead on the last lap. Custer's win earned him a spot in the 2020 playoffs, but he was eliminated early.
On October 11, 2022, Custer and his crew chief were fined and penalized for a rule violation at the Charlotte Roval race. Custer moved back to the Xfinity Series after the 2022 season.
- Ryan Preece (2023–2024)
On November 16, 2022, SHR announced that Ryan Preece would replace Custer in the No. 41 for the 2023 season. Preece earned his first career pole position at Martinsville. He had one top-five finish at Richmond during the regular season. On August 26, 2023, at the Daytona night race, Preece was involved in a severe crash. His car rolled many times but he was able to exit safely and was discharged from the hospital the next morning. The crash ended his chances of making the playoffs.
Preece started the 2024 season with a 23rd-place finish at the Daytona 500. His team received a penalty for a rule violation at Atlanta.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Teams
Stewart–Haas Racing also had a strong presence in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Car No. 00: Cole Custer's Journey
.jpg)
- Cole Custer (2017–2019, 2023–2024)
On July 25, 2016, Stewart–Haas announced it would start an Xfinity Series program in 2017. Cole Custer was named the driver of the No. 00 car. In 2017, Custer won his first Xfinity race at Homestead. He led almost every lap. In 2018, Custer had six pole positions and one win. He made it to the Championship 4 but finished second in the championship.
In 2019, Custer had an amazing season with seven wins and five pole positions. He finished second in the championship again. After the season, Custer was promoted to the Cup Series.
On November 16, 2022, Custer moved back to the Xfinity Series to drive the No. 00 full-time for Stewart–Haas Racing. He won his first race of 2023 at Portland. Custer also won a rain-shortened race at the Chicago street course. His team received a penalty for a rule violation at Michigan. Custer won the final race at Phoenix and claimed his first Xfinity Series championship.
Custer started the 2024 season with a 13th-place finish at Daytona. He won races at Pocono and Bristol. He also won the regular season championship. Custer made the Championship 4 again.
Car No. 98: Part-time to Full-time Success
- Part-time (2017–2018)
.jpg)
In 2017, Kevin Harvick drove six races in a second Stewart–Haas Xfinity car, the No. 41. He had a best finish of second at Charlotte. In 2018, SHR partnered with Biagi-DenBeste Racing for their No. 98 car. Harvick, Almirola, and Chase Briscoe drove this car. Harvick won the first race for the team under this partnership at Atlanta. On September 29, Briscoe won his first career Xfinity Series race at the Charlotte Roval.
- Chase Briscoe (2019–2020)
Briscoe and the No. 98 team raced full-time in 2019. Briscoe won his second career Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway. He returned full-time in 2020 with HighPoint as his main sponsor. Briscoe had a fantastic year, winning a season-leading nine races. This made him the clear choice to replace the retiring Clint Bowyer in the No. 14 Cup Series car for 2021.
- Riley Herbst (2021–2024)
With Briscoe moving to the Cup Series, SHR signed Riley Herbst to drive the No. 98 in 2021. In 2023, Herbst won his first career Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas. He finished 13th in the points standings.
Herbst started the 2024 season with a sixth-place finish at Daytona. He won his first race of the season at Indianapolis. This was also the first time both SHR Xfinity cars finished first and second, with Custer finishing right behind Herbst. At Phoenix, Herbst gave Stewart–Haas Racing its final race win. He finished seventh in the points standings.
Other Racing Series
Stewart–Haas Racing also participated in other racing series, helping develop young drivers.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
In 2014, 16-year-old Cole Custer, son of SHR executive Joe Custer, drove the No. 00 Haas Automation Chevrolet Silverado in nine races. This team was called Haas Racing Development. Custer became the youngest pole winner in Truck Series history at Gateway Motorsports Park. He later won at New Hampshire, becoming the youngest driver to win a Truck Series race. With this win, Gene Haas became one of the few owners to win in all three major NASCAR series. Custer moved to JR Motorsports in 2015, and the Haas truck team closed.
ARCA Menards Series
In 2021, the team fielded the No. 14 Ford for Chase Briscoe at Watkins Glen.
ARCA Menards Series West
In 2023, the team fielded the No. 9 Bonanza Wines Ford for Ryan Preece at Sonoma Raceway. Preece won the race from the pole position. In 2021, the team fielded the No. 14 Ford for Chase Briscoe at Sonoma Raceway, and Briscoe won that race. Stewart–Haas Racing made their K&N Pro Series debut at the 2018 Carneros 200 at Sonoma Raceway. Aric Almirola drove the No. 41 Ford.
eNASCAR iRacing World Championship Series
Stewart–Haas Gaming made history by winning the first eNASCAR Heat Pro League Championship in 2019. For the 2020 eNASCAR iRacing World Championship Series, the team was renamed Stewart–Haas eSports.
See also
In Spanish: Stewart-Haas Racing para niños
