How Tony Stewart feels about NASCAR leadership, charter system: “NASCAR charter agreements are ‘a joke”
Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), a team that has been a cornerstone of NASCAR since its inception in 2002, is closing its doors after a successful run. The team, which Tony Stewart helped build as an owner and driver starting in 2009, has tallied two NASCAR Cup Series championships.
However, as the sport continues to evolve, SHR is downsizing, with only a single-car effort remaining under the ownership of Gene Haas. Tony Stewart, on the other hand, is stepping away from NASCAR entirely.
This departure comes at a time of significant change within NASCAR, particularly in relation to the sport’s charter system. Charters, which serve as a version of franchises in NASCAR, hold immense value for team owners. In 2023, Spire Motorsports bought a charter for an estimated $40 million. However, tensions are rising around the charter agreements, especially with two teams—23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports—filing an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, seeking more favorable terms.
The charter system has been a point of contention for team owners, especially as the sport heads toward a new charter agreement for the 2025 season.
Stewart, in an interview with Jason Stein, made it clear that he has deep reservations about how NASCAR is being run under its current management. Reflecting on his early years in the sport, Stewart praised the leadership of Bill France Jr. and Mike Helton, who he described as two of the most influential figures in shaping his career. However, Stewart expressed disappointment with the current leadership, saying that many officials now seem focused solely on keeping their jobs rather than making bold, visionary decisions for the future of NASCAR.
“The leadership is way different than it was,” Stewart remarked, hinting at a more bureaucratic and less daring approach to decision-making. He also pointed out that the vast majority of NASCAR fans have no idea about the behind-the-scenes struggles and the dynamics at play in the sport’s upper echelons. “98% of the race fans have no clue,” Stewart said, indicating that the public perception of NASCAR may not align with the internal challenges faced by team owners.
One of Stewart’s most pointed comments came in response to remarks made by Rick Hendrick, a legendary team owner in NASCAR. Hendrick had expressed frustration with the charter negotiations, saying he was “just tired of arguing with them.” Stewart, however, found this statement revealing. He noted that Hendrick, a businessman known for his meticulous approach, would never simply concede out of exhaustion.
“If people aren’t smart enough to read between the lines and figure out what that means, then you’re all missing the whole big picture,” Stewart said, implying that Hendrick’s comment hinted at deeper dissatisfaction with NASCAR’s current leadership.
Stewart’s departure from NASCAR signals a shift in the sport’s landscape, as it grapples with the complexities of the charter system, ownership struggles, and the direction of its future. For Stewart, the time had come to make a change, citing a sense of disillusionment with where NASCAR is headed.
“I’m an old school guy when it comes to racing,” Stewart said, underscoring his desire for a return to the values and leadership that once made the sport great. As NASCAR moves forward, it will need to address these concerns if it hopes to retain the loyalty of owners, drivers, and fans alike.
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