While the Stewart-Haas Racing lineup for the 2023 season is confirmed, 2024 might pose new challenges for the team.
SHR has seen drivers’ lineup changes in six of their last seven seasons. This time, it was Ryan Preece replacing Cole Custer behind the wheels of the No. 41 car for the 2023 season. The other drivers are Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola and Chase Briscoe.
Preece was chosen ahead of Custer after the latter failed to impress the team in his three-year stint at the Cup Series. He will head back to the Xfinity Series in a bid to impress his employer.
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While the 2023 lineup is pretty set for SHR, there are a lot of uncertainties for the 2024 season. Harvick has been pondering retirement and is without a contract beyond the 2023 season. He has even said that he planned to retire after the 2021 season. But having stayed in the NASCAR top-tier for two more seasons, it seems like the time has come for Harvick to finally do it. There are also reports that he will fill the third seat in the Fox Sports broadcast booth for 2024.
Another driver, Almirola also planned retirement after the 2022 season. However, he signed a new deal that would keep him at SHR for “2023 and beyond”, there are rumors that his deal allows him to retire after the 2023 season.
And having recently been demoted, it is hard to see Custer coming back to the Cup Series in just one year. He will probably have to get a couple of decent years to make SHR want him in the Cup Series again.
As for Preece, he might be under pressure to perform for the 2023 season. Nonetheless, it is unlikely that he will be asked to leave even if he performs badly after just one season.
That leaves the team with their only driver with a long-term future at the team in Briscoe. SHR will have some decisions to make as the 2023 season progresses.