Stewart–Haas Racing facts for kids

For the related Formula One team, see Haas F1 Team. For the current NASCAR team, see Haas Factory Team.

Quick facts for kids
Stewart–Haas Racing
Career

Owner(s)	Tony Stewart Gene Haas
Base	Kannapolis, North Carolina
Series	NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR Xfinity Series
Manufacturer	Ford
Opened	2002
Closed	2024
Debut	Cup Series: 2002 Protection One 400 (Kansas) Xfinity Series: 2003 Mr. Goodcents 300 (Kansas) 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: 1,178 Cup Series: 792 Xfinity Series: 373 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 Camping World Truck Series: 0 ARCA Menards Series: 0 ARCA Menards Series West: 0
Race victories	Total: 103 Cup Series: 70 Xfinity Series: 30 Camping World Truck Series: 1 ARCA Menards Series: 0 ARCA Menards Series West: 2
Pole positions	Total: 81 Cup Series: 54 Xfinity Series: 24 Camping World Truck Series: 2 ARCA Menards Series: 0 ARCA Menards Series West: 1

Stewart–Haas Racing was a professional stock car racing team in America. They competed in the top NASCAR series, the NASCAR Cup Series, and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The team was co-owned by Tony Stewart, a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, and Gene Haas, who founded Haas Automation.

The team started in 2002 as Haas CNC Racing. Gene Haas, whose company sponsored another team, decided to create his own. In 2009, Tony Stewart, a famous driver, joined Haas. He became a driver and also owned half of the team. That's when the team changed its name to Stewart–Haas Racing.

Their main office was in Kannapolis, North Carolina. This is near Charlotte Motor Speedway. They also had a sister team, Haas F1 Team, which races in Formula One.

From 2002 to 2016, the team used Chevrolet engines and parts. (In 2003, they used Pontiac engines.) These parts came from Hendrick Motorsports. In 2017, they switched to Ford engines. These were provided by Roush-Yates Engines. The team also started building their own car parts.

Stewart–Haas Racing has won races in all three major NASCAR touring series. Only a few other teams have done this. These include Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, and RFK Racing.

On May 28, 2024, the team announced it would close. This would happen at the end of the 2024 season. However, on June 20, Gene Haas said he would keep one of the team's racing spots. He plans to restart a new team called Haas Factory Team in 2025.

History of the Team

Gene Haas had sponsored Hendrick Motorsports for many years. In April 2002, he decided to start his own team. It would race in the 2003 season. Hendrick Motorsports agreed to help with cars, engines, and technical support. Haas hired Jack Sprague as his driver. Sprague brought his sponsor, NetZero, with him. The car was numbered 0. The team first worked out of a small shop rented from Hendrick Motorsports.

In late 2002, Haas CNC raced with Chevrolet cars. But before the 2003 season, they switched to Pontiac. This was because many General Motors teams did the same. Haas CNC also had a part-time team in the Busch Series that year. They became a full-time team in 2004. After 2003, Pontiac left the sport. So, the team switched back to Chevrolet.

On July 10, 2008, a big announcement was made. Tony Stewart, a two-time Sprint Cup Series champion, would join the team. He would be a driver and an owner. Stewart would get half of the team. He had been driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. But he was not happy when they switched from Chevrolet to Toyota. He wanted to race for Chevrolet again. Haas wanted Stewart to drive for his team. He also hoped Stewart would attract sponsors and good staff. The team was renamed Stewart–Haas Racing. They soon signed many important sponsors and experienced people. They also worked closely with Hendrick Motorsports.

Since the team started, they used cars from General Motors. But on February 24, 2016, they announced a change. The team would switch to Ford for the 2017 season. They would get engines from Roush-Yates Engines. The team also restarted its program in the Xfinity Series.

On May 28, 2024, Tony Stewart announced the team would close. This included both the Cup and Xfinity teams. The closure would mean 323 jobs would be lost. One of the team's four racing spots was sold to Front Row Motorsports. On August 24, it was revealed that Trackhouse Racing bought another spot.

On June 20, Gene Haas announced his plans. He would keep one of the team's racing spots. He would reorganize the team as Haas Factory Team. Joe Custer would be the team president. The new Haas Factory Team would also keep SHR's two Xfinity Series teams.

Cup Series Drivers

Stewart–Haas Racing had many talented drivers in the Cup Series. Each car number had its own story.

Car No. 4 Drivers

The No. 4 car was originally the No. 0. It was the first car for Haas CNC Racing.

Jack Sprague (2002–2003): Jack Sprague was the first driver. He had a great 14th-place finish at the 2003 Daytona 500. But after that, the team struggled. Haas replaced him with John Andretti. Then Jason Leffler drove the car for a short time.
Ward Burton (2003–2004): Ward Burton took over the car in late 2003. He had some good finishes, like 13th at Atlanta. In 2004, the team switched back to Chevrolet. Burton earned the team's first top-10 finish, coming in 9th at Rockingham. He was later replaced by Mike Bliss.
Mike Bliss (2004–2005): Mike Bliss joined the team and quickly finished 10th at Darlington. He continued to have some strong runs in 2005, including a 7th-place finish at Bristol.
Jeff Green (2006–2007): Jeff Green became the driver in 2006. The car number changed to 66. Green finished 28th in points in 2006. Jeremy Mayfield took over for the last four races of 2007.
Scott Riggs (2008): Scott Riggs drove the No. 66 car in 2008. He had a tough start. But his performance improved after Tony Stewart joined the team. Riggs finished the season in the top 35 in points.
Ryan Newman (2009–2013): Ryan Newman joined the team in 2009. The car number changed to 39. Newman had 15 top-10 finishes in 2009. In 2010, he won the team's first race with the No. 39 car at Phoenix. He won again in 2011 and 2012. In 2013, Newman won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis. He was later released from the team.
Kevin Harvick (2014–2023): Kevin Harvick joined the team in 2014. The car number was changed back to 4. Harvick won his second race with SHR at Phoenix. He won five races in 2014, including the final race at Homestead. This helped him win the Cup Series Championship for SHR. He continued to be a top driver, winning many races each year. In 2018, he won a career-high eight races. Harvick announced his retirement at the end of the 2023 season.
Josh Berry (2024): Josh Berry took over the No. 4 car in 2024. He had a season-best third-place finish at Darlington and New Hampshire.

Car No. 10 Drivers

The No. 10 car was first used by Stewart–Haas Racing in 2012.

Danica Patrick (2012–2017): Danica Patrick joined NASCAR full-time in 2012. She raced a limited schedule in the Cup Series. In 2013, she became the first woman to win the pole position for the Daytona 500. She also led laps and finished 8th in that race. Patrick struggled to get many top finishes in other races. She 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. He won his first race with the team at Talladega. He finished fifth in points in 2018, his best career result. Almirola announced he would not retire after 2022 and continued to drive in 2023. He left SHR after the 2023 season.
Noah Gragson (2024): Noah Gragson became the driver of the No. 10 car in 2024. He had a career-best third-place finish at Talladega.

Car No. 14 Drivers

The No. 14 car has a special history, especially with Tony Stewart.

Origins (2002–2008): The car started as the No. 60 in 2002. It was a fifth car for Hendrick Motorsports. Various drivers like Jason Leffler and Johnny Sauter drove it. In 2006, it became the No. 70 car for Haas.
Tony Stewart (2009–2016): Tony Stewart started driving the No. 14 car in 2009. The number 14 was a tribute to his hero, A. J. Foyt. Stewart won the Sprint All-Star Race in 2009. This was the first win for Gene Haas. Stewart then won four more races that year. In 2011, Stewart won five races during the final 10-race playoff. He tied Carl Edwards in points but won the championship because he had more victories. This made him the only NASCAR driver to win championships under different series names. Stewart was injured in 2013 and 2016. He retired after the 2016 season.
Clint Bowyer (2017–2020): Clint Bowyer took over the No. 14 car in 2017. He had a strong comeback in 2018, winning two races. He made it to the playoffs in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Bowyer announced his retirement from full-time driving at the end of the 2020 season.
Chase Briscoe (2021–2024): Chase Briscoe replaced Bowyer in the No. 14 car in 2021. He won the 2021 NASCAR Rookie of the Year award. Briscoe won his first Cup Series race at Phoenix in 2022. He broke a long winless streak at the Southern 500 in 2024, making the playoffs.

Car No. 41 Drivers

The No. 41 car was the fourth and newest team added to Stewart–Haas Racing. It started in 2014.

Kurt Busch (2014–2018): Kurt Busch joined the team in 2014. He won his first race with the team at Martinsville. In 2015, Busch was suspended for a short time. Regan Smith drove the car for three races. When Busch returned, he won two more races that season. In 2017, Busch won the Daytona 500, which was a big first for him and SHR. He left the team after 2018.
Daniel Suárez (2019): Daniel Suárez took over the No. 41 car in 2019. He had some good finishes but did not win any races. He left the team at the end of the season.
Cole Custer (2020–2022): Cole Custer replaced Suárez in the No. 41 Ford in 2020. He won his first career Cup Series race at Kentucky. This win earned him a spot in the 2020 playoffs. In 2022, Custer and his crew chief faced penalties for slowing down to help a teammate.
Ryan Preece (2023–2024): Ryan Preece replaced Custer in the No. 41 car in 2023. He won his first career pole position at Martinsville. In August 2023, Preece had a very serious crash at Daytona. His car rolled many times, but he was able to get out and was okay. He continued to race in 2024.

Xfinity Series Drivers

Stewart–Haas Racing also had a strong presence in the Xfinity Series.

Car No. 00 Drivers

The Haas team started in the Xfinity Series (then called the Busch Series) in 2003.

Jason Leffler (2003–2004): Jason Leffler was the first main driver for the No. 00 car. In 2004, he earned the team's first Xfinity Series win at Nashville.
Justin Labonte (2005): Justin Labonte drove the No. 44 car in 2005. The team was briefly called Labonte-Haas Motorsports. He had some top-10 finishes.
Johnny Sauter (2006): Johnny Sauter drove the No. 00 car in 2006. He finished 8th in the points standings. After this, the team's Xfinity program was paused.
Cole Custer (2017–2019, 2023–2024): Stewart–Haas reopened its Xfinity Series program in 2017. Cole Custer became the driver of the No. 00 car. He won his first Xfinity race in 2017. In 2018, he had six pole positions and one win. In 2019, Custer won seven races. He finished second in the championship both years. In 2023, Custer returned to the No. 00 car. He won two races and claimed his first Xfinity Series championship. In 2024, he won two more races and the regular season championship.

Car No. 98 Drivers

The No. 98 car joined the Xfinity Series in 2017.

Part-time Drivers (2017–2018): In 2017, Kevin Harvick drove the No. 41 Mustang for six races. In 2018, SHR partnered with another team to field the No. 98 car. Harvick, Aric Almirola, and Chase Briscoe all drove it. Harvick won the first race for the team under this new partnership. Briscoe won his first Xfinity Series race in the No. 98 car.
Chase Briscoe (2019–2020): Chase Briscoe drove the No. 98 full-time in 2019 and 2020. He had a fantastic year in 2020, winning nine races. This led to him moving up to the Cup Series in 2021.
Riley Herbst (2021–2024): Riley Herbst took over the No. 98 car in 2021. In 2023, he won his first career Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas. In 2024, he won his first race of the season at Indianapolis. This was also the first time both SHR Xfinity cars finished first and second. Herbst gave Stewart–Haas Racing its final race win at Phoenix.

Camping World Truck Series

Stewart–Haas Racing also had a small program in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Truck No. 00 Drivers

Cole Custer (2014): In 2014, 16-year-old Cole Custer drove the No. 00 truck. He became the youngest pole winner in Truck Series history. He also became the youngest driver to win a Truck Series race at New Hampshire. With this win, Gene Haas became one of the few owners to win in all three national NASCAR series.

ARCA Menards Series West

Stewart–Haas Racing also competed in the ARCA Menards Series West.

Car No. 9 Drivers

Ryan Preece (2023): In 2023, Ryan Preece drove the No. 9 Ford at Sonoma Raceway. He won the race from the pole position.

Car No. 14 Drivers

Chase Briscoe (2021): In 2021, Chase Briscoe drove the No. 14 Ford at Sonoma Raceway. He won the race.

Car No. 41 Drivers

Aric Almirola (2018): Stewart–Haas Racing first raced in the K&N Pro Series (now ARCA Menards Series West) in 2018. Aric Almirola drove the No. 41 Ford at Sonoma Raceway.

Wins in Racing

Stewart–Haas Racing achieved many victories across different NASCAR series.

Cup Series Wins

2009: Tony Stewart won 4 races.
2010: Ryan Newman won 1 race; Tony Stewart won 2 races.
2011: Ryan Newman won 1 race; Tony Stewart won 5 races (and the championship).
2012: Tony Stewart won 3 races; Ryan Newman won 1 race.
2013: Tony Stewart won 1 race; Ryan Newman won 1 race.
2014: Kevin Harvick won 5 races (and the championship); Kurt Busch won 1 race.
2015: Kevin Harvick won 3 races; Kurt Busch won 2 races.
2016: Kevin Harvick won 3 races; Kurt Busch won 1 race; Tony Stewart won 1 race.
2017: Kurt Busch won 1 race; Kevin Harvick won 2 races.
2018: Kevin Harvick won 8 races; Clint Bowyer won 2 races; Kurt Busch won 1 race; Aric Almirola won 1 race.
2019: Kevin Harvick won 4 races.
2020: Kevin Harvick won 9 races; Cole Custer won 1 race.
2021: Aric Almirola won 1 race.
2022: Chase Briscoe won 1 race; Kevin Harvick won 2 races.
2024: Chase Briscoe won 1 race.

Xfinity Series Wins

2004: Jason Leffler won 1 race.
2017: Cole Custer won 1 race.
2018: Kevin Harvick won 1 race; Chase Briscoe won 1 race; Cole Custer won 1 race.
2019: Cole Custer won 7 races; Chase Briscoe won 1 race.
2020: Chase Briscoe won 9 races.
2023: Cole Custer won 2 races (and the championship); Riley Herbst won 1 race.
2024: Cole Custer won 2 races; Riley Herbst won 2 races.