"It's easy to sit on your a**": Tony Stewart lambasts online critics following their 'unjust' strike on SHR's fast-approaching shutdown

Tony Stewart has slammed online critics for the backlash concerning the imminent shutdown of his team Stewart-Haas Racing. The team announced earlier this year that they would close their operations after the 2024 NASCAR season. After three races at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, and Phoenix Raceway, SHR won't be seen in next year's roster.

After Stewart parted ways with Joe Gibbs Racing following the 2008 Cup Series season, he joined forces with Gene Haas, who, at that time, owned Haas CNC Racing. The then-two-time Cup champion struck a deal with Gene and bought half ownership in the team, rebadging it to Stewart-Haas Racing.

Since its inception in 2009, the North Carolina-based team has etched its name among the most dominant in NASCAR. From their 16 seasons in Premier-Level racing, the duo's venture raked in 70 victories. Notably, Stewart's third Cup title came in 2011 with SHR, as a driver and co-owner. They clinched their second trophy in 2014, with former driver Kevin Harvick, adding a fourth championship win to Stewart's storied stock car racing resume.

However, after Harvick retired, big sponsors namely, Anheuser-Busch's Busch Light, Hunt Brothers Pizza, Rheem, Smithfield, and Pristine Auction, to name a few, left the team to sponsor other garages. Moreover, SHR couldn't rake in any wins during the 2023 season, further weakening its sponsoring prospects. Thus, without much financial support, it was tough to run the big organization, and the team announced its shutdown.

The decision didn't sit well with the fans and the critics "bashed" Tony Stewart following the shutdown call. He didn't hold back, lambasting them with his scathing reply.

"The bashing I got online and on social media was very unjust through the process. It's easy to sit on your a**, on a chair, on your couch in your mom's house and sit there and tell us how we're doing it wrong. But nobody can seem to sit there and come in on Monday morning and tell us how to do it right," Stewart said via Fox Sports.

Gene Haas has retained one Cup Series charter for his new one-car team, Haas Factory Team, with Cole Custer behind the wheel next season.

"A huge boost for the building": Tony Stewart hails Chase Briscoe's Darlington win as it snapped their disappointing 73-race winless streak

Tony Stewart's co-owned organization was winless in the 2023 season and remained that way until the 2024 regular-season finale at the Darlington Raceway. However, things became sublime for the team after Chase Briscoe mastered the 26th Cup Series race weekend to give his team a better closure.

The #14 Ford driver, who will drive for Joe Gibbs Racing next season, replacing Martin Truex Jr., showcased his dominance in the final stage at the 'Too Tough To Tame' track. He fended off two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, neglected his playoff spot, and punched his road to championship ticket. It's worth mentioning that the regular season finale was the Southern 500 crown jewel race, which added to the triumphant allure.

Tony Stewart said Briscoe's win was a "huge boost" for his team amid the struggling phase they are experiencing.

"Obviously, for the building, the last couple years have been a huge struggle, and just trying to get a car in the winner’s circle again was tough," Stewart said. "But to see Chase get that done at Darlington and win a crown jewel race and get himself in the playoffs, that was a huge boost for the building," Stewart said via Fox Sports.

Tony Stewart will exit NASCAR as a four-time Cup Series champion, two as a driver, third as a driver and owner (2011), and the fourth as Harvick's owner.