Stewart-Haas Racing has left NASCAR; Tony Stewart is asking fans to read between the lines on comments from Rick Hendrick regarding the charter agreement
Stewart-Haas Racing has been in NASCAR in various forms since 2002. Tony Stewart joined the team as an owner/driver for the 2009 season.
Now, the team has closed their doors with two NASCAR Cup Series championship tallied. Three of the four charters are being sold. Gene Haas will remain a team owner but he will only operate a single-car effort. Meanwhile, Tony Stewart is leaving the sport entirely.
His departure comes at a time when two teams have elected to take NASCAR to court. 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have opened an anti-trust lawsuit against NASCAR as they seek more favorable charter terms.
Charters are NASCAR’s version of franchises as they add value to team owners. In 2023, Spire Motorsports purchased a charter at an estimated value of $40M.
For 2025, a new charter agreement will be put into action. 13 of 15 teams have signed that agreement after a multi-year negotiation between NASCAR and the teams.
Since then, multiple team owners have spoken up after signing the agreement. Tony Stewart is asking fans to read between the lines regarding those owner’s comments.
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Tony Stewart knocks the new NASCAR leadership
“I had the privilege of coming in when Bill France Jr was there,” Tony Stewart told Jason Stein.
“Bill was a very unique character. A very great leader for our sport. I think he number one support system was Mike Helton.”
“And, that is the one person beyond a shadow of doubt, that’s still left, that I have the utmost respect for, is Mike. Mike helped me grow as a person. He’s one of three people that I credit of being one of the three greatest people to ever come into my life and help shape me as who I am as a man today.”
“There’s people like Bill France, that we lost. We lost Jim Hunter.”
“You talk to people that are there now, you talk to officials that are there, these are high officials in the company. When you talk to them, it’s like they’re just trying to keep their job. They’re worried that if they make the wrong decision, they’re going to get in trouble for it.”
“The leadership is way different than it was.”
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Stewart doesn’t like the direction NASCAR is going
“98% of the race fans have no clue. They don’t know the stuff that I’m talking about off to the side that are the elements that I don’t like.”
“What it was when I started and where it’s at now, the direction it’s going, I don’t necessarily agree with it. I don’t necessarily like it. There’s elements that I’m very disappointed in. That’s okay. Not everybody has to agree on it.”
“For me, that’s why it’s the right time to make a change.”
Tony Stewart says NASCAR is ‘drastically different’
Tony Stewart says NASCAR charter agreements are a joke
“The charter agreements are a joke,” Stewart added.
“When someone like Rick Hendrick says, ‘I just got tired of arguing with them.’ Do you think Rick Hendrick runs his business and in negotiations just says, ‘Ah, I’m just going to sign this agreement because I’m tired of arguing with you.’ “
Rick Hendrick comments on 23XI Racing not signing agreement
“Rick Hendrick’s never done that a day in his life. So, if people aren’t smart enough to read between the lines and figure out what that means, then you’re all missing the whole big picture.”
“It’s just an area that I don’t want to be a part of anymore. I’m an old school guy when it comes to racing.”
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