Kevin Harvick has accused Ford of undermining Stewart-Haas Racing to favor its other teams, asserting that Ford prefers its cars to win over SHR's. Harvick, a big figure at SHR during his NASCAR Cup Series career, offered this insight following his departure after the 2023 season and amid SHR's struggling 2024 performance.
The 2024 season for SHR has been a challenging one, with Chase Briscoe assuming the role of leading driver after Harvick's exit. However, Briscoe managed a vital victory at Darlington, securing a playoff spot and providing a significant morale boost to a team that needed it.
Despite this achievement, SHR announced they would close their operations at the end of the season, marking a premature end to their competitive journey.
On his show, "Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour," Harvick showed his excitement for Briscoe's win, specifically praising SHR's Competition Director, Greg Zipadelli.
"I listened to an interview with [SHR Competition Director] Greg Zipadelli, and I think you have to give a lot of credit to him. I think he's been through a ton of really hard, awkward, difficult moments, with not only the team, but Tony Stewart through the years, and those guys always find a way to battle and put themselves in position," Harvick noted. Reflecting on SHR's strength, he added:
"I mean, I was a part of it for a number of years. It was always, it was never, 'This is the end,' it was, 'Well, we've got to keep going. We've got to figure it out.' Those guys are fighting until the very end of a company."
Harvick also discussed the future of SHR and the changes it would face post-closure, with only a single Cup car and a couple of Xfinity cars remaining from the once-dominant team.
"Even though the Haas Factory Team is going to have one Cup car and a couple Xfinity cars, it's not the same. Tony Stewart is not there. ... He's in a great spot, as a person, and I think that, when you look at everything that that company has accomplished ... they figured out how to put a car in the playoffs, and I don't think anybody expected any of those cars to be anywhere near the playoffs.
"I was thinking to myself last night, I was like, 'My god, this place is going to get a car into the playoffs.'"
In a controversial statement, Harvick claimed that Ford's motivations might be working against SHR's success.
"Ultimately, Ford doesn't want them to win, anymore, I don't think. They don't want them to beat their cars that are going to be there next year. I think they want their cars that are going to be there next year to beat that Stewart-Haas car.
"But that's not going to hinder the enthusiasm that comes from the people, those employees and those cars, because they've shown it all year. Just a lot of grit and determination from a lot of great racers."
Chase Briscoe's recent success has significantly boosted SHR's chances as they head into the playoffs.
"If Chase Briscoe gets hot with the full power of what remains at Stewart-Haas Racing behind him, the sky could be the limit, even if Ford may be selling them short."
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