Yahoo Autos Stewart-Haas teams reflecting but looking ahead after news of impending closure
Stewart-Haas Racing personnel have begun sharing their reactions to Tuesday’s announcement that the organization will close its NASCAR operation at the end of the season.
Chase Briscoe (pictured above) posted a video from his car in the parking lot of the race shop after the news was shared with the race team. The 29-year-old started the video by saying it was a “crazy time.” Briscoe has driven a Cup Series car for the organization since 2021.
“I never thought this day would come,” Briscoe said in the video shared on his social media channel. “I’ve been at Stewart-Haas for the last seven years now. It’s truthfully (become) like home to me and it feels like a family, and what an incredible group of men and women at this place that just make it feel like and just make you enjoy coming to work each and every day.
“First and foremost, I just hope that all the guys and gals at this place find a great opportunity because each and every single person here deserves it – just an incredible group of people that have all put in so much hard work and effort and just sacrificed so much for me to be able to live out my dream of driving race cars and winning at the highest level.”
Briscoe has a lone Cup Series win with the organization. The next couple of weeks will be “interesting,” Briscoe said, trying to find what is available as he doesn’t know what he’ll be doing next.
“It’s crazy knowing that this will be the last year that I drive the 14 car,” Briscoe said. “The car that I looked up to growing up and obviously idolized growing up. So, crazy times, for sure. I never thought it would happen.”
Josh Berry responded to the joint statement from co-owners Tony Stewart and Gene Haas that was posted on the team’s social media page. Berry is in his first year driving the No. 4 Ford Mustang, which he inherited after Kevin Harvick retired.
“Today was a tough day for all of us,” Berry wrote. “It is pretty hard to find the right words. I’m proud of our team for how they have been handling this and will going forward. [Rodney Childers] is a true leader. We will keep racing our hearts out every Sunday.”
Childers posted a collage of photos and listed the many accomplishments of the No. 4 team through the years. And like Briscoe, he also mentioned the family aspect of the organization.
“A family that truly cares and loves every person,” Childers wrote. “We aren’t done!”
Stewart-Haas Racing has been winless in the Cup Series since 2022. Cole Custer is the reigning Xfinity Series champion for the organization.
“Pretty heartbreaking to see,” Custer wrote on social media in response to the post about the joint statement. “The stretch that Tony, Gene, and everyone at SHR had was extremely impressive. We’re (going to) fight the rest of the year to finish strong.”
Riley Herbst, who also drives for Stewart-Haas Racing in the Xfinity Series, reposted his December 2020 video about joining the organization and wrote, “Stewart-Haas Racing picked me up when I was at my lowest, and I’ll be forever grateful to Tony and Gene for helping me grow, not only as a racer but as a person. (I’m) looking forward to finishing the season strong.”
Stewart-Haas Racing has three championships across the Cup Series and Xfinity Series and 91 victories.
