NASCAR insider offers latest on Denny Hamlin, 23XI purchasing Stewart-Haas charter, who would fill the seat

Stewart-Haas Racing is ceasing operations at the end of the Cup Series season, and it’s expected that a charter will be purchased by 23XI Racing. According to Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports, 23XI will likely purchase a charter, but team co-owner Denny Hamlin said Saturday they have not agreed to a purchase.

Pockrass wrote:  “The team’s current reserve driver is truck series driver Corey Heim and he would be a candidate for that car. Heim will race a third Cup car for 23XI at Nashville later this month. Herbst also possibly would get a look if 23XI wants Heim to get more experience or if it wants more time to find Cup funding for Heim.”

When Hamlin learned the news of Stewart-Haas shutting down, he sent a message to the team on social media. “We should take this time to thank [Stewart-Haas Racing] for everything they have done for our sport over the last couple of decades,” he wrote. “They turned contenders into winners and winners into champions. While this is the last chapter for them in the sport, it will begin a new chapter for others. Let’s celebrate all of their accomplishments and wish them well in the future.”

Stewart-Haas was originally founded in 2002 as Haas CNC Racing. In 2009, Tony Stewart became a co-owner after agreeing to drive for the team, and Stewart-Haas Racing was born. During its run, Stewart-Haas has won two Cup Series titles and one Xfinity Series Championship. The current roster includes Cup Series drivers Josh Berry, Noah Gragson, Chase Briscoe and Ryan Preece. The team also has Xfinity Series drivers Cole Custer and Riley Herbst.

Stewart-Haas issues statement on closing at the end of the year

“We have made the difficult decision to close Stewart-Haas Racing at the conclusion of the 2024 season,” Stewart and Gene Haas said in the statement. “It is a decision that did not come easily, nor was it made quickly. Racing is a labor-intensive, humbling sport. It requires unwavering commitment and vast resources, with a 365-day mindset to be better than everyone else. It’s part of what makes success so rewarding.

“But the commitment needed to extract maximum performance while providing sustainability is incredibly demanding, and we’ve reached a point in our respective personal and business lives where it’s time to pass the torch. We’re proud of all the wins and championships we’ve earned since joining together in 2009, but even more special is the culture we built and the friendships we forged as we committed to a common cause — winning races and collecting trophies.”