NASCAR: Why Stewart-Haas Racing didn’t sign Kyle Larson

By Asher Fair | Nov 13, 2020

Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing, NASCAR (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Tony Stewart revealed why he didn’t sign Kyle Larson as Clint Bowyer’s replacement for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Before it emerged that Hendrick Motorsports was the most likely landing spot for Kyle Larson for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, Stewart-Haas Racing had been seen as a very real possibility.

Team co-owner Tony Stewart had attempted to sign Larson multiple times before, including as his own replacement behind the wheel of the #14 Chevrolet-turned-Ford for the 2017 season.

In that particular situation, Stewart had announced that he would retire after the 2016 season, but he did so all the way back in September of 2015, and at that time, Larson’s contract with Chip Ganassi Racing did not allow for him to sign elsewhere. As a result, Stewart tabbed Clint Bowyer as his replacement.

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Entering the 2020 season, there was speculation that Bowyer may be in his final year behind the wheel of the #14 Ford after signing a one-year extension late in 2019.

So when Larson was fired by Chip Ganassi Racing after several sponsors cut ties with him over his use of a racial slur during a virtual event on iRacing back in April just four races into the 2020 season, all eyes turned to Stewart as the most likely owner to give him a second chance.

Indeed, Bowyer won’t be back with the team for what would have been a fifth season last year, as he is set to make the long-rumored move to the Fox booth starting in 2021.

But Larson won’t be with Stewart’s organization.

He has been reinstated by NASCAR, and despite Chevrolet having suspended their relationship with him as well, he is set to join Hendrick Motorsports as the replacement for seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson instead, albeit behind the wheel of the #5 Chevrolet with Alex Bowman set to move from the team’s #88 Chevrolet to Johnson’s #48 Chevrolet and the number 88 set to be discontinued.

Stewart-Haas Racing, confirming a driver change for the fifth consecutive season, announced that they would instead be promoting Chase Briscoe from their Xfinity Series team to replace Bowyer next year, alongside Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola and Cole Custer.

On an Instagram photo posted by Stewart and dedicated to Bowyer, a fan commented the following and questioned the team’s decision.

"“Shudda put larson in 14 car !! Lost out s&h racing.. Someone with no fear !! Who you got better ?? No one !! Dumbest..”"

Stewart responded.

"“trust me I tried. Learn all of the details before you bash me. I tried for the last 4 years. Ford wouldn’t approve it. I TRIED”"

Of course, Stewart-Haas Racing still made a great signing by promoting Briscoe, something that Stewart had said that he was more than okay with doing well before it happened — and well before Larson officially signed with Hendrick Motorsports.

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Kyle Larson is set to make his Hendrick Motorsports debut and Chase Briscoe is set to make his Cup Series debut on Sunday, February 14, 2021 in the 63rd annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, with Clint Bowyer in the Fox booth for that race.

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