USA TODAY International Edition
Cup team rift?
Tony Stewart opposed fourth driver for 2014,
“I don’t think Tony ( Stewart) was exactly enthralled with what I did, but I think he saw it my way. Either that or get out of the building.” Gene Haas, co- owner of Stewart- Haas Racing, on his decision to sign Kurt Busch
Stewart- Haas Racing unveiled its new “Outlaw” of NASCAR, and his name is Gene Haas. The renegade nickname might belong to new driver Kurt Busch, who glossed himself with that anti- establishment moniker last year.
But it currently seems best suited for Haas — the man who ensured through his own force of will that Busch would join Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick and Danica Patrick in the most inherently dynamic and potentially combustible driver lineup in recent Sprint Cup history. Speculation over Busch’s move has prompted incessant hand- wringing over how the drivers possibly could coexist under one 140,000- square- foot roof.
All of which became immaterial Tuesday after Haas, the seemingly mild- mannered and overshadowed co- owner of SHR, stole the show by nonchalantly revealing how he overruled and angered Stewart in deciding the team — already trying to recover from expansion to a third car this season — would add a fourth car in 2014 funded out of the manufacturing tool magnate’s pocket.
Never mind the players at SHR — how would its two principles get along after Haas pulled a power play on his NASCAR business partner/ driver- owner to engineer the biggest free agency coup of the season?
“I don’t think Tony was exactly en- thralled with what I did, but I think he saw it my way,” Haas said, pausing as laughter filled the glass atrium lobby of Stewart- Haas Racing. “Either that or get out of the building.”
Stewart, of course, hasn’t really had much of a say lately. He missed Tuesday’s announcement while on the mend from the broken right leg he suffered in a sprint car crash three weeks ago.
That happened to coincide with the courtship of Busch by Haas, who learned a week earlier during a General Motors dinner in Indianapolis that the 2004 Cup champ wasn’t under contract for next season. As Haas began preparing an offer to Busch, Stewart was virtually incapacitated.
So Haas, whose Haas Automation has posted annual revenue estimated at approaching $ 1 billion, decided he would hire Busch with his company as primary sponsor, constituting roughly a blank check of at least $ 15 million, without consulting Stewart — and deal with the consequences when the often- irascible three- time champion learned of it.
“So I kind of did this on my own, probably overstepped my authority a tick,” Haas said. “I did realize that Tony might be a little bit upset about it. He was.”
NASCAR is known for its share of surreal moments, but this bifurcation might qualify as the most bizarre episode of the 2013 season: Stewart, the quintessential racer who will be sidelined for at least four months because of his insatiable desire to drive anything, trying to persuade Haas, the consummate businessman, to not let his passion for checkered flags override a checking account and common sense.
SHR director of competition Greg Zipadelli, the primary conduit for recovering Stewart, said, “Tony was very much in favor of the fourth team. What Tony was against was us trying to get it done for next year.”
SHR has become a NASCAR powerhouse almost solely because of Stewart. His magnetic charisma and sterling record brought scads of talented crewmembers and sponsors in tow when he arrived in 2009 after being given a 50% stake by Haas essentially in exchange for Stewart’s name and talent — immediately transforming an organization that had been an afterthought since its 2002 inception.
The team won its first race in Stewart’s debut season, has made the Chase for the Sprint Cup every year since and won its first title in 2011. During SHR’s climb, Stewart has emerged as such a major player as a driver, team owner and track promoter that it’s been easy to forget that he didn’t own the bankroll behind his Cup team. Tuesday brought a rather jarring reminder.
“If we don’t win any races next year, hey, I’m going to look like an idiot,” Haas said. “I think we’re going to win a lot more races than anybody ever thought possible.”