Change is inevitable, it happens on a daily basis whether it be in small doses or a large life-changing situation. Some come about by choice, some are based on circumstances, while others are forced upon a person against their wishes. The key is how one handles that change, what’s made of a new opportunity.
In 2009, industrialist Gene Haas made a huge change, bringing in two-time NASCAR Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion driver Tony Stewart as half owner of Haas CNC Racing and to drive for the team. That move elevated them from a third-tier or second-tier organization to a top-level championship one. And they’ve continued to build and grow by allowing multiple drivers to make a change in their careers, most for the benefit of the individuals as well as the company.
Tony Stewart came to Haas Racing as a high-level competitor from Joe Gibbs Racing, where he won two championships. But Stewart wasn’t fond of JGR’s decision to switch to Toyota while he also he wanted the freedom to race more outside of NASCAR and to pursue other interests.
Stewart seized the opportunity at every level; first by winning four times in his first season, more than he had in the previous three years. Winning broke a 375 race streak for a car owner/driver, the last was Ricky Rudd back in September of 1998. The team also led the points standings, not done since Alan Kulwicki in 1992. The ultimate goal was achieved in 2011 by winning the NASCAR Cup Series Championship, only the third time in 30 years by an owner/driver. Kulwick iwon in ’92 and the other was Richard Petty, his last coming in 1979.
Kevin Harvick was another driver that was winning with Richard Childress Racing but had reached sort of plateau and opted to switch over to SHR in 2014 with intentions to chase that eluded championship. He and crew chief Rodney Childers accomplished that in their first year and have been a yearly contender every season since, finishing no lower than eighth in the annual standings. Harvick has accumulated 91 top-fives and 22 wins with the No. 4 as he enters his sixth year. That’s almost half of his career 45 wins with a personal best of eight in coming in 2018.
When Tony Stewart chose to step aside as a NASCAR driver, the company put their faith in Clint Bowyer, who hadn’t won a race since 2012. He didn’t come out strong in 2017, collecting seven only top-ten finishes and sitting 18th in points. Bowyer returned to form in 2018 though as he won twice, earned nine top-fives, 15 top-tens and competed in the playoffs for the first time since 2015, ending the season in 12th-place.
Another gamble was made last year when Aric Almirola was called to come over to the No. 10 machine following Danica Patrick’s retirement. Almirola made that bet pay off big time with a career year for himself and his team. More top-ten finishes were achieved in a 16-race stretch than in the team’s six-year existence. Almirola ended up breaking a 244-race winless streak at Talladega Superspeedway, ending the season with four top-fives and 17 top-tens. Those stats carried him deep into the playoffs, finishing fifth, only behind the final four championship contenders.
While Kurt Busch left following the 2018 season, he too accomplished some big things in five years. He came to the team looking to rebuild his career and reputation, both on and off the track. Winning every year, twice in 2015 and competing for the championship will do just that. Capturing his and the company’s first Daytona 500 victory in 2017 was a career highlight. It was also their first win after switching manufacturers from Chevy to Ford in the offseason.
So what kind of optimism does that give in-coming driver Daniel Suarez?
“Stewart-Haas Racing is a very good organization and all they do is
to win trophies. Tony (Stewart, co-owner) told me that and you can tell that’s what they do. When the owner of the team tells you that we do everything we can to win races, that just gives you a smile on your face. That’s all you want as a driver, that’s all you care about. race “I’m very happy at SHR and everyone has made me feel at home in a very short period of time. I’m excited and can’t wait to start the season. We had a test in California and it went well, and it was very productive for me and for my team.”
Daniel Suarez, The new Driver of the No. 41 for Stewart Haas Racing in 2019
Suarez is coming over from Joe Gibbs Racing where there wasn’t enough room for him following their signing of the 2017 Champion Martin Truex, Jr. He had a strong car and run at Daytona before the “Big One” and picked up his first top-ten at Atlanta in only his second points race with the team. Suarez hopes this leads to much more with a jump start of his young career.