BRISTOL, Tenn. – Even as team co-owner and leader Tony Stewart continues to recuperate from a broken leg, activity percolates at Stewart-Haas Racing.
While continuing a late-summer attempt to push lame-duck driver Ryan Newman into a Chase for the Sprint Cup spot — Newman currently sits 15th in the standings with a July win at Indianapolis – SHR is bulking up toward a wider, stronger foundation for both the present and future.
The team is working toward adding Kurt Busch to its 2014 driver lineup, a bold move that will require more shop space and deeper sponsorship. And the latest team news Friday puts highly respected crew chief Rodney Childers in the company’s employ for 2014 as team leader for driver Kevin Harvick, who’s moving over from Richard Childress Racing beginning next season.
The team’s 2014 lineup, then, could put Busch in the Sprint Cup picture with Harvick, Danica Patrick and, presumably, a fully recovered Stewart.
“As far as Kurt’s deal, that is moving forward,” SHR competition director Greg Zipadelli said Friday. “We spent time this week talking about buildings and expanding. So as far as that part goes, we’re pretty much committed. If we can get it all worked out, we’re going to add that link.
“We are looking to do whatever we can to make Stewart-Haas a better place to race, give our drivers better resources, crew chiefs. Our goal is to give our teams a better product to race every week going into Daytona. With four good drivers next year I think that it gives us that opportunity.”
As for the immediate future, SHR has one of NASCAR’s legendary drivers, Mark Martin, in its top car – Stewart’s No. 14 Chevrolet – for Saturday night’s Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway and for the rest of the season (except for the October race at Talladega where Austin Dillon will drive) as Stewart’s recovery continues.
For SHR, it’s an odd mix of disappointment – as Stewart loses a shot at racing for a fourth championship – and optimism – as a top-flight driver in Martin joins the team and solid work continues on future possibilities.
The most surprising news of the week was that involving Busch, who has lost rides at two major teams – Roush Fenway Racing and Penske Racing – because of attitude issues but has reinforced the respect for his driving talent with a fine season as the lone car at Furniture Row Racing.
Only a few weeks ago, Stewart rejected the thought of expanding his team from three to four cars and, in fact, had underlined that idea by releasing Newman from the team, effective at the end of the season.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, arrived the news about Busch.
“Obviously, something has changed,” Zipadelli said. “Gene Haas (team co-owner) is obviously a partner and started this many years ago. He has always liked Kurt. We had talked about Kurt last year, (about) putting him in the No. 39. Things just didn’t work out.
“It’s really nothing that Ryan did wrong. I mean, he’s done a great job, he’s a good guy, heck of a driver. This just kind of got sprung on us 14 days ago or less. It’s kind of all come down (recently). Gene just showed some interest and having the ability to put something together. Without getting into a ton more details, that is really all it is. It’s something we are working on. I don’t know that it will all come together. It’s going to take an awful lot. It is kind of late.”
Busch has said that he has several offers for next season but has indicated his primary concern is securing a spot in the Chase for the Furniture Row team this season. He enters Saturday night’s Bristol race ninth in points, six points ahead of 11th place in the standings, but he remains winless this season.
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