Denny Hamlin gives his opinion on the future of Stewart Haas Racing. The NASCAR community was shocked when it was announced by unidentified sources that Stewart Haas Racing will cease operations at the end of this season. They have already begun selling their licenses and their drivers and key team members are also looking for new teams.
During a recent discussion about SHR’s departure, three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin emphasized the financial factors that led to this difficult decision. He noted that the team’s deal with Ford, which ends this season, is a significant financial blow, as manufacturer support greatly contributes to a team’s success.
The second issue highlighted by Hamlin is the loss of sponsors. Unlike in the past, where SHR had no trouble retaining sponsors, they are now struggling to keep them and have failed to attract new deals. This consistent pattern of spending money without sufficient sponsor support has led them to make the decision to step back and let the show go on.
At the end of the season, four Cup Series teams and several engineers will be left without jobs. Hamlin mentioned that the talented individuals from the SHR group will easily find new positions in other teams, as many teams are expanding their operations.
While the top officials at SHR may not have difficulty finding new opportunities in the sport, average performance employees will likely face challenging times in the future. The upcoming hiring season in the Cup series will be intriguing to watch.