Tony Stewart Uncovers the Secrets That Could Propel SHR to Success: “It’s Not Divide and Conquer”

Published 02/19/2024, 1:48 AM HKT

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The latest chat has finally set the record straight on who’s stepping up as the top wheelman at Stewart-Haas Racing. It seems Chase Briscoe has grabbed the reins. There was some buzz around Josh Berry potentially being in the running, but now Tony Stewart has made it clear. However, that wasn’t the heart of the matter. The real meat of the conversation was all about team spirit and finding ways for the quartet of drivers to gel and make a comeback this season, especially after hitting rock bottom last time around.

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Tony Stewart and Chase Briscoe talk about the strategies they would need to follow this year

Tony Stewart and Chase Briscoe have been brainstorming on how to steer Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) towards a triumphant Cup season, especially after a year that left everyone dumbfounded when SHR didn’t notch a single win under its belt, even with Kevin Harvick at the helm. But now, with the team practically rebooted, featuring drivers either in their rookie season or barely into their second, a solid game plan is crucial. It looks like Tony Stewart has sketched out a blueprint for success.

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Considering Chase Briscoe as the emerging skipper of the ship, Tony Stewart shared, “I think this is a scenario where you’re in this position as the leader right now of, you know, I think the biggest concept is not so much what one does but what all four of you guys do together. If you guys are all the first four cars and you’re really only racing each other at that point but it’s not a divide and conquer it’s a everybody working together, pulling the rope the same direction and helping each other and when we can raise each other up we raise the whole program up.”

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Stewart also tipped his hat to Briscoe’s growth as a driver, highlighting the team’s evolution from just showing up at dirt tracks without much of a plan to now strategizing, diving into race footage, crunching data, and fine-tuning their Pit Road tactics to shave precious seconds.

Yet, Stewart hinted at some tough calls on the horizon, as he confided on SiriusXM Radio, ready to make even the most difficult decisions if it means steering the team back to victory lane.

Watch This Story: Tony Stewart Wife Leah Pruett Gets Emotional as She Vacates Her Racing Haven for Husband Smoke

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Tony Stewart is going to mend things no matter what it takes

Tony Stewart, once known as “Smoke” for his fiery driving style, is at his wit’s end with the lackluster performance of his team. He’s pulling out all the stops to arm his drivers with everything they need to succeed, and in return, he’s expecting them to deliver the goods. In a heart-to-heart, he laid it out plain and simple, “We’re going to have to get some races into it, but if we’re not having the results we’re looking for, we’re going to start making some major changes. Everybody knows that. Everybody understands that.”

Even his driver, Ryan Preece is well aware of the high stakes and the repercussions of not meeting Stewart’s expectations. He acknowledged, “We hear everybody, we hear you guys, we’re not just ignoring it. And as you heard Tony say, mediocrity isn’t acceptable.”

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Tony Stewart Painfully Admits Being “Scared” of Speaking His Mind During Driving Years

It’s going to be quite the spectacle watching Stewart’s crew kick into high gear, fighting tooth and nail to secure their spot in the winner’s circle and live up to their boss’s standards.

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Written by:

Neha Dwivedi

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Neha Dwivedi is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. As a journalist, she religiously believes in the power of research, which allows her readers to dive deep into her stories and experience the detailed nuances of the sport like never before. Being proficient with Core Sport and Live Event Coverage, she has written multiple copies on the top entities of Stock Car Racing, like Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, and Tony Stewart.
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