WATCH: Stewart Haas Racing Honored by Airport Officials After Final NASCAR Appearance

Neha Dwivedi | 12/11/2024
NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Briscoe (14) during practice for the Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway.

As NASCAR wrapped up the 2024 season, it was also the end of the road for Stewart-Haas Racing. The emotions ran high among the team, with Chase Briscoe admitting he was crying before even hitting the track. In an emotional tribute, their journey ended under a literal shower of salute.

Following their showdown at Phoenix Raceway, where the SHR drivers Josh Berry, Noah Gragson, Chase Briscoe, and Ryan Preece finished P24, P12, P29, and P37 respectively, the team returned to a hero’s welcome.

Upon their arrival at Concord-Padgett Regional Airport, the local Fire Department paid homage with a water cannon salute, marking a ceremonial farewell to the Kannapolis-based NASCAR team.

The Stewart-Haas Racing team shared the video of their plane getting drenched by the fire department on their official X handle. While the team will officially wind down operations on December 31, Gene Haas plans to keep his racing spirit alive by fielding one car in next year’s Cup Series and two in the Xfinity Series under the new banner of Haas Factory Team.

Over their 16-year stint, the team celebrated 70 Cup Series victories, with Kevin Harvick winning 37 of them and Tony Stewart capturing 16 of those triumphant moments.

NASCAR fans share their take on the ‘decommission’ gesture

The farewell gesture struck a chord, prompting reactions ranging from tearful goodbyes to light-hearted jabs. One fan couldn’t help but remark, “Stop it. You’re making me cry.” Meanwhile, another quipped about the ceremonious water salute, “That was nice of them to extinguish the dumpster fire upon landing!”

Sharing their personal experience, another fan recounted, “I was looking out the window when we landed and couldn’t figure out what the heck was going on. Then, the fire truck started shooting water at & above, our plane. Shortly thereafter, our pilot explained this fleet tradition when it’s being decommissioned. Very cool stuff.”

Amidst the reflective comments, some fans took a playful dig at Ryan Preece’s uncertain future. One joked, “Ryan Preece had to take the Amtrak back home,” while another teased, “I’m sure Preece was left at the airport. “

While rumors have been swirling about Preece potentially joining Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, no official confirmation has been made. Yet, with Keselowski hinting at an upcoming announcement in two weeks, fans are left wondering if it might involve Preece’s next career move.

Post Edited By: Srijan Mandal
Kevin Harvick Tony Stewart

About the author

Neha Dwivedi

Neha Dwivedi is an experienced NASCAR Journalist at The SportsRush, having penned over 5500 articles on the sport to date. She was a seasoned writer long before she got into the world of NASCAR. Although she loves to see Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch win the races, she equally supports the emerging talents in the CARS Late Model and ARCA Menards Series.. For her work in NASCAR she has earned accolades from journalists like Susan Wade of The Athletic, as well as NASCAR drivers including Thad Moffit and Corey Lajoie. Her favorite moment from NASCAR was witnessing Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. win the championship trophies. Outside the racetrack world, Neha immerses herself in the literary world, exploring both fiction and non-fiction.

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