SHR will be back

“But the letter makes clear the main sticking point between the teams and NASCAR remains the charter system, under which each of the 36 cars with a charter are guaranteed a spot in the 40-car Cup Series field each week and a slice of TV package revenue.”

“We have seen the market for Charters rise since initially issued, but there is currently no real market due to the uncertainty surrounding the pending renewal process,” the letter states. “In order to continue to invest in our Teams and the sport as a whole, we need to build long term value in our Charter ownership that is stable, predictable, and permanent.”

 
So the argument is this- "SHR isn't focused on NASCAR because of their other racing series commitments so they're likely to sell a charter or 2". Is that correct? Because Gene Haas must hate auto racing and paying out of pocket for it... Which is why he started a Formula 1 program not too long ago and expanded to 4 cars in Cup recently as well.

I don't buy this. SHR will be 4 cars in 2024 and beyond. They're still a powerhouse team, just having a remarkably bad year.
 
So the argument is this- "SHR isn't focused on NASCAR because of their other racing series commitments so they're likely to sell a charter or 2". Is that correct? Because Gene Haas must hate auto racing and paying out of pocket for it... Which is why he started a Formula 1 program not too long ago and expanded to 4 cars in Cup recently as well.

I don't buy this. SHR will be 4 cars in 2024 and beyond. They're still a powerhouse team, just having a remarkably bad year.
That's entirely possible that nothing changes. SHR being typically closed mouthed, I doubt we will get any clarification out of them especially if they ARE negotiating to sell two charters.
 
So the argument is this- "SHR isn't focused on NASCAR because of their other racing series commitments so they're likely to sell a charter or 2". Is that correct? Because Gene Haas must hate auto racing and paying out of pocket for it... Which is why he started a Formula 1 program not too long ago and expanded to 4 cars in Cup recently as well.

I don't buy this. SHR will be 4 cars in 2024 and beyond. They're still a powerhouse team, just having a remarkably bad year.

They have been having bad years for the last 3 years.
 
3 wins last year and 1 in 2021. Not great but not terrible.

And 10 wins in 2020 fwiw but I'm assuming you just want to include 2021-2023
Two cars in the playoffs last year, with Briscoe nearly sneaking into the final 4. I still have hope SHR turns it around, although I'm probably higher on Briscoe, Preece & Berry than most. Almirola has shown speed in the past as well, but the only reason he has that ride is because of $mithfield. I kind of hope he doesn't retire, having a veteran around has value in a number of ways. That said, Zane Smith would be a worthy upgrade. Gene Haas is willing to spend money. Why sell the charters?
 
Two cars in the playoffs last year, with Briscoe nearly sneaking into the final 4. I still have hope SHR turns it around, although I'm probably higher on Briscoe, Preece & Berry than most. Almirola has shown speed in the past as well, but the only reason he has that ride is because of $mithfield. I kind of hope he doesn't retire, having a veteran around has value in a number of ways. That said, Zane Smith would be a worthy upgrade. Gene Haas is willing to spend money. Why sell the charters?

I agree 100%. Preece and Briscoe both have a history of performing well in poor cars. I don't see any logic on selling anything.

I do want to see Almirola retire. This is Preece's 4th full time year in Cup plus 2 part time years; I think he will slot into the "veteran" role nicely.
 
I agree 100%. Preece and Briscoe both have a history of performing well in poor cars. I don't see any logic on selling anything.

I do want to see Almirola retire. This is Preece's 4th full time year in Cup plus 2 part time years; I think he will slot into the "veteran" role nicely.
Honestly, the only way I give Almirola another year is if Smithfield stays. Otherwise, go for someone who has upside in Zane Smith.
 
So the argument is this- "SHR isn't focused on NASCAR because of their other racing series commitments so they're likely to sell a charter or 2". Is that correct? Because Gene Haas must hate auto racing and paying out of pocket for it... Which is why he started a Formula 1 program not too long ago and expanded to 4 cars in Cup recently as well.

I don't buy this. SHR will be 4 cars in 2024 and beyond. They're still a powerhouse team, just having a remarkably bad year.
The fact that SHR is in a slump isn't why I think there could be real changes there. It's the fact that the NASCAR operation doesn't seem to be a pressing priority for either Gene OR Tony. Both seem thoroughly engaged in their other ventures. Call me crazy, but I just think it's a bad look when NEITHER of them is at the track. Despite competing in three different types of racing and his advanced age, Roger Penske is probably at more NASCAR races than either Stewart or Haas.
 
The fact that SHR is in a slump isn't why I think there could be real changes there. It's the fact that the NASCAR operation doesn't seem to be a pressing priority for either Gene OR Tony. Both seem thoroughly engaged in their other ventures. Call me crazy, but I just think it's a bad look when NEITHER of them is at the track. Despite competing in three different types of racing and his advanced age, Roger Penske is probably at more NASCAR races than either Stewart or Haas.

I don't think we should be trying to set the bar of owner involvement to Roger Penske. I don't think there's anyone else more dedicated to motorsports than him.

Gene and Tony both have money and have been doing this longer than many people work in their entire lives. Let them enjoy whatever they want to do on their weekends.
 
I don't think we should be trying to set the bar of owner involvement to Roger Penske. I don't think there's anyone else more dedicated to motorsports than him.

Gene and Tony both have money and have been doing this longer than many people work in their entire lives. Let them enjoy whatever they want to do on their weekends.
They can do whatever they want, but don't be shocked if success eludes them. I think it's important to remember that despite his immense wealth, Haas CNC Racing was a Rick Ware level dumpster fire until Tony signed on, and then became one of the more formidable teams in the sport. Then it seems that as Tony found new ways to amuse himself, the team has backslid considerably. That would seem to indicate that Tony has been the key to that organization, and the fact that he would now rather go play with his wife and fiddle with SRX does not bode well for the team. Will they be better than they are right now? Probably, but just keep in mind that all the team's best years coincided with a fully engaged Tony Stewart. Also keep in mind that since Tony hung up his NASCAR helmet, 90% of the team's success has been racked up by the driver that is retiring at the end of the year. That leaves a pretty bare cupboard.
 
So the argument is this- "SHR isn't focused on NASCAR because of their other racing series commitments so they're likely to sell a charter or 2". Is that correct? Because Gene Haas must hate auto racing and paying out of pocket for it... Which is why he started a Formula 1 program not too long ago and expanded to 4 cars in Cup recently as well.

I don't buy this. SHR will be 4 cars in 2024 and beyond. They're still a powerhouse team, just having a remarkably bad year.
I think you're taking it a little too dramatic here. We've seen teams downsize to refocus before, like Roush and RCR, who were also once powerhouse teams (more so even than SHR) that fell into a rut.

Tony/Gene have said that they four cars because that's how they make the most from their Ford contract. Ford and SHR are apparently breaking up, so SHR will no longer have the same incentive to run four cars. Their performance has fallen off a cliff. And Anhueser-Busch just left, and now NASCAR media is reporting that Smithfield apparently won't be back either. So probably their two largest sponsors, gone.

They need to a serious rebuild right now. They probably don't have the funding anymore, sponsorship wise and with Ford parting ways, to sustain four cars. They very well may be facing an economic decision where they must downsize to survive, and with charter prices estimated to be worth 40-50 million dollars now, selling two would also give them a big injection of cash. "Right sizing" to two cars seems like a great move for them right now.
 
Why would Hamlin go to the sinking ship that is SHR versus running a third 23XI car? (The obvious answer being money…)
He won't. Because here's the thing, if he leaves JGR and retains FedEx, then he can just take FedEx to his own team. And even if FedEx sticks with Gibbs, either way he'll need a new sponsor so he might as well bring a new sponsor into 23XI than have one on the hood of an SHR car. As far as SHR themselves helping to land Denny a sponsor, frankly if SHR was top-notch at securing big replacement sponsors then they probably wouldn't even be looking to downsize right now, so I doubt they could do it better than Denny.
 
I do find it funny that people think Tony and Haas aren't invested enough in SHR when they're not the only people in the NASCAR garage who also has more than one iron in the fire. Dale Jr. has Jr. motorsports, but he's also a part of the CARS Tour, he races Xfinity once or twice a season, I think he owns a distillery as well. Same for Richard Childress. He has RCR, Childress winery, and also an Xfinity team. It's not really that uncommon for team owners and drivers to have business dealings outside of NASCAR.
 
I do find it funny that people think Tony and Haas aren't invested enough in SHR when they're not the only people in the NASCAR garage who also has more than one iron in the fire. Dale Jr. has Jr. motorsports, but he's also a part of the CARS Tour, he races Xfinity once or twice a season, I think he owns a distillery as well. Same for Richard Childress. He has RCR, Childress winery, and also an Xfinity team. It's not really that uncommon for team owners and drivers to have business dealings outside of NASCAR.
I think the difference is neither Haas or Stewart are at the track these days...that definitely implies that they are hands off
 
I do find it funny that people think Tony and Haas aren't invested enough in SHR when they're not the only people in the NASCAR garage who also has more than one iron in the fire. Dale Jr. has Jr. motorsports, but he's also a part of the CARS Tour, he races Xfinity once or twice a season, I think he owns a distillery as well. Same for Richard Childress. He has RCR, Childress winery, and also an Xfinity team. It's not really that uncommon for team owners and drivers to have business dealings outside of NASCAR.
When you look at all the other successful Cup teams, it doesn't take very long to see that SHR is not quite like the others. You may not think it matters, but people NOTICE when you're not around. Drivers, crew members, SPONSORS.
 
When you look at all the other successful Cup teams, it doesn't take very long to see that SHR is not quite like the others. You may not think it matters, but people NOTICE when you're not around. Drivers, crew members, SPONSORS.
How do you know they aren't around?
 
No because Penske goes to a lot of the Cup races and Stewart doesn't...keep moving the goal posts, but you keep on missing...
How do you know that? I haven't seen Penske and I have watched every race this year. If owners are at the track about the only time you see them besides Richard Childress on the radio is in victory lane and there hasn't been many there this year.
 
How do you know that? I haven't seen Penske and I have watched every race this year. If owners are at the track about the only time you see them besides Richard Childress on the radio is in victory lane and there hasn't been many there this year.
Since you didn't see him on TV, he wasn't there...gotcha.

I'm out...
 
How do you know that? I haven't seen Penske and I have watched every race this year. If owners are at the track about the only time you see them besides Richard Childress on the radio is in victory lane and there hasn't been many there this year.
I just saw Roush and Penske talking on the grid at one of the recent NBC races. Maybe it was Michigan might of Even been last weekend.
 
I just saw Roush and Penske talking on the grid at one of the recent NBC races. Maybe it was Michigan might of Even been last weekend.
If I had to guess I would say Michigan. That is where the OEM big wigs are. Hell, it could be absenteeism. But there are tons are tons of other reasons for not only SHR but all Fords in general are slow. RFK's Keselowski, who's winless, is the top Ford in 6th place in the points. Harvick is 10th for SHR, Logano for Penske is 13th? Buescher is the only Ford showing some life in 7th place.
 
Why would Hamlin go to the sinking ship that is SHR versus running a third 23XI car? (The obvious answer being money…)
Maybe hd saw Kyle’s win total this year and he wants to go to what’s perceived to be a “lesser” team (RCR is not, really) to prove he can do it too.


If so I’d wager that he can’t. ;) ;)
 
Moving Rodney Childers to the competition director is a fantastic idea. He could be this teams, Chad Knaus. The guy knows how to make cars go fast.

I don't think we'll see four SHR cars next year, unless they find some big-time sponsors in the near future.
 
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