Stewart-Haas Racing: A 16-Year Legacy in NASCAR and Its 2024 Farewell

Stewart-Haas Racing Overview

Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) began in 2009 when Tony Stewart became co-owner of Haas CNC Racing. This change transformed a struggling team into a championship contender.

Achievements

In its 16 years, SHR has:

• Participated in 1,980 Cup Series races and 336 Xfinity races.
• Won two Cup Series championships: Tony Stewart in 2011 and Kevin Harvick in 2014.
• Claimed the 2023 Xfinity Championship with Cole Custer.
• Achieved 70 Cup Series wins, ranking seventh in total wins from 1972 to 2023.
• Recorded 343 top-five finishes, giving them a top-five finish rate of 17.3%.
• Noted 707 top-10 finishes for a rate of 35.7%.
• Fielded 13 different drivers in four cars, plus seven temporary drivers due to Stewart’s injuries.

However, SHR ceased operations after the 2024 season.

Driver Performance

Historically, SHR’s drivers have varied in success. The No. 4 car, driven by Kevin Harvick, contributed 37 of the team’s 70 wins, accounting for 52.8% of SHR’s total victories. Harvick and crew chief Rodney Childers secured notable seasons, including eight wins in 2018 and nine wins in 2020.

Tony Stewart had 16 wins during his time with the team, mostly in his first four years, but struggled thereafter due to injuries. Harvick also experienced a decline in his final years, with only two wins in the last four seasons.

Expansion and Performance Metrics

SHR started with two cars, adding a third in 2013 and a fourth in 2014.

• From 2009-2012, SHR won 17 races, averaging 2.1 wins per car yearly.
• From 2014-2017, with four cars, they won 20 races, averaging 1.25 wins per car yearly.

This reflects a decline in win efficiency despite having more cars.

Drivers Without Wins

Certain drivers did not achieve victories with SHR:

• Danica Patrick: 180 races, best finish sixth, average finish 23.8.
• Ryan Preece: 72 races, best finish fourth, average finish 20.8.
• Daniel Suárez, Josh Berry, and Noah Gragson: competed for one year each without wins.

Overall, SHR drivers averaged a finish better than 10.0 only five times, all achieved by Harvick.

Changes in NASCAR

NASCAR has evolved since SHR’s founding. Key shifts include:

• Teams decreased from 30 in 2009 to 20 in 2024.
• Full-time cars remained steady at around 35-36.
• The number of teams with four (or more) full-time cars dropped from four to three.
• More teams shifted to running two cars, from three in 2009 to eight today.

Newer teams like Trackhouse Racing and 23XI Racing are expanding, showing the potential for growth in a competitive environment. The Stewart-Haas Racing experience offers insights for new teams aiming for success.