$90M star Tony Stewart cites Rick Hendrick’s example to blast NASCAR charter agreements - “They’re a joke”
Three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and team owner, Tony Stewart, recently spoke out against the new charter agreements and suggested that there are deeper issues involved.
The charter system that was introduced in 2016 expires after this year and a new agreement was proposed in September. Every team, except 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, signed the new deal. However, there were reports that many were forced to sign charter agreements due to pressure and threats.
In a recent video, $90M-worth Stewart (according to Celebrity Net Worth) pointed out that people should pay attention to the deeper problems.
"The charter agreements are a joke. And if people aren't smart enough to read between the lines of when someone like Rick Hendrick says, 'I just got tired arguing with him.' Do you think Rick Hendrick runs his business and negotiation just says, 'I'm just going to sign this agreement because I'm tired of arguing with you?' Rick Hendrick has never done that a day in his life," Stewart said.
Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), co-owned by Stewart, announced earlier this year that it will cease operations at the end of the 2024 season. Stewart’s decision to leave NASCAR was influenced by personal and professional reasons.
"It's just an area that I don't want to be a part of anymore. I'm a purist. I'm an old-school guy when it comes to racing," Stewart added.
Stewart has started racing in the Top Fuel category of NHRA drag racing to take the place of his wife, Leah Pruett. The couple are expecting their first child this month.
SHR co-owner Gene Haas will run a smaller Haas Factory Team next year.
"I'm fine being done with this at the end of the year" - Tony Stewart on shutting down SHR
Last month, Tony Stewart also shared his thoughts on leaving NASCAR in an episode of Kevin Harvick's "Happy Hour" podcast. Stewart acknowledged that the ongoing problems and arguments between team owners and NASCAR added to his reasons for closing the team.
"It wasn't that way at the beginning of the year, we had different reasons for why we had to shut down at the end of the season. As time's gone on and watching the owners and NASCAR fight and just the chaos that's going on over there, I'm fine being done with this at the end of the year," Stewart said.
23XI and Front Row Motorsports sued NASCAR and its CEO Jim France in an antitrust lawsuit that challenges the terms of the new charter agreements. The hearing for the preliminary injunction was set for Monday (Nov. 4).