The pertinence of the adage ‘Money makes the mare go’ is perhaps strongly felt by Tony Stewart and his team. The team had an utterly dismal year in the 2023 Cup Series, as none of the drivers were able to clinch the checkered flag. To add to the ongoing struggles of the team, two of the prime sponsors are also set to depart from the SHR camp before the start of 2024 season.

Two important questions pop up: Why do sponsorships play a decisive role in the future of a team and its drivers, and will Tony Stewart’s team be able to recover from the series of mishaps that the team has endured and turn the tables in 2024? Looks like the hosts of PRN Live have an answer.

Insider weigh in on “the one thing they have to do” to ride out SHR crisis situation

The iconic blue color of Bud Light, along with the No. 4 written on white, has been a fixture in the Cup Series arena since 2016. The brewing company, valued at $106 billion, has maintained a rapport not only with the team but the organization as a whole. However, with Kevin Harvick declaring his retirement, Anheuser-Busch also announced a retraction of its sponsorship of Stewart-Haas Racing’s #4 Ford at the end of the 2023 season. Further, Aric Almirola’s exit from the series at the end of the season, along with his primary sponsor, Smithfield (valued at $20.5 million) added to the mix.

Witnessing the deplorable state of Stewart-Haas Racing, NASCAR insider and PRN Live host Doug Rice had a pretty straightforward solution. Rice stated, “One thing that they have to do is find some success to keep sponsors in. Because they have already lost a biggie, Anheuser-Busch left with vacating Harvick and now is over with Ross Chastain. They are going to lose Smithfield. Ryan Preece is #33, so he and Josh Berry of the Stewart-Haas stable share the same age, they are still babies.”

“Anyway, I find this interesting situation you have got a four-car team that does not have a one Cup win among its four drivers, heading into next year. They need some success and feel it they need it early on to try to attract more money because money makes cars go faster.”

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Even though Tony Stewart had announced earlier that Josh Berry would replace Kevin Harvick from the 2024 season onwards, he failed to answer many looming questions, an important one being about sponsorships. 

SHR’s only gamble and hope lie with Josh Berry

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In order to ensure his seat, the driver needs primary sponsors to bear the financial responsibilities of the driver as well as the team. Owing to this, co-host Alexis Erikson continued along the same lines as Doug Rice. She exclaimed, “It does and we have not had the announcement yet I mean we have known for months that Josh was going to be in the #4 car, but we do not know yet who is going to be on that car. So that will certainly be interesting to see what partners they attract.”

There are still a few months to go for Gene Haas and Tony Stewart to pull some strings. With the next stops at the LA Coliseum and Daytona, it will be interesting to see what awaits Stewart-Haas Racing.

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