Tony Stewart’s NASCAR drivers pick their Olympics relay team

Following the USA's record-breaking win in the 4×100 m mixed medley relay on Saturday, Tony Stewart's Cup Series team, Stewart-Haas Racing, interviewed their drivers about who they would have in their teams if they had to build a relay team. Among the drivers were Ryan Preece, Josh Berry, Cole Custer, Riley Herbst and Noah Gragson.

Tony Stewart and co-owner Gene Haas announced in May that the Ford team would shut down at the end of the current Cup Series season. The team will reportedly sell off all their charters save one, which Gene Haas will retain to form a new team, Haas Factory Team, which will have a technical alliance with RFK Racing and operate from the SHR facility at Kannapolis, North Carolina.

The interview started with Ryan Preece, who drives the No. 41 machine for the Ford team. When asked who he would have on his relay team, the 33-year-old speedster said:

"I feel like I'm gonna pull one person from our team. That would probably have to be Josh Berry. Tyler Reddick seems like he runs quite a bit. Alex Bowman, Austin Cindric. I feel like if he really wanted to run, he could go."

While Josh Berry is Preece's favorite, Berry named his grid keeping Trackhouse Racing's Ross Chastain at the top of his preference.

"Ross Chastain is fast," said Berry. "William Byron, Stenhouse ... can't pick me; I would bring the team down. Maybe Austin Dillon."

The interviewers approached the reigning Xfinity Series champion Cole Custer. Custer pilots the #00 car for Tony Stewart's Cup outfit. Previously, he used to drive the #41 machine for the team.

"I would definitely pick Riley (Herbst), " said the Ladera Ranch native. "I know he's got some long-distance speed. Parker Kligerman. He looks like he's in pretty good shape. Maybe Jesse Love also."

Meanwhile, Riley Herbst felt like he would be the fastest runner on his team. Reflecting on the same, he said:

"I would put me to start. I put Noah (Gragson) second... that's the most vulnerable position. That's okay if you lose ground on that spot, we'd hand it to Zane in the third and then to finish it we'd probably give it to Austin Cindric."

Noah Gragson, too, chose Herbst as the forerunner of his team.

"I would have Riley start us off, and then I would go second. I would toss the baton off to Zane Smith, and then I would have Kyle Larson end it," he added.

With only a few races to go till the 2024 playoffs, several Stewart-Haas Racing drivers are looking for new teams. Chase Briscoe has landed a multi-year deal with Joe Gibbs Racing, while Noah Gragson is expected to join Front Row Motorsports.

Furthermore, Josh Berry will replace Harrison Burton at Wood Brothers Racing. Rumors say Riley Herbst could join 23XI Racing, a team jointly owned by Denny Hamlin and NBA legend, Michael Jordan.

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Kyle Larson matches Tony Stewart in new NASCAR stat

Tony Stewart remains the only driver to complete the combined 1,100 miles of the Coca-Cola 600 and the Indianapolis 500. Kyle Larson tried to replicate the feat earlier this year, but inclement weather stood in the way.

Nevertheless, following this year's Brickyard 400, Larson etched his name alongside the multi-time Cup Series champion. Larson and Stewart are the only two drivers to have led laps in both the Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400 in the same season.

Acknowledging the same, Indianapolis Motor Speedway posted:

"#DidYouKnow - Just two drivers have led the #Indy500 and #Brickyard400 in the same season."

"In 2001, @TonyStewart led a combined 16 laps between the two races. This year, @KyleLarsonRacin led 12 laps in the #INDYCAR and #NASCAR events."

Tony Stewart is in his first full year driving in NHRA's Top Fuel division. He owns Tony Stewart Racing, a team that fields a Top Fueler driven by his wife Leah Pruett, and a Funny Car driven by Matt Hagan.

Larson, meanwhile, is the winningest driver in the current Cup Series roster and is looking forward to winning his second Cup Series championship.