Stewart-Haas Racing switches to Ford in 2017

Stewart-Haas Racing switches to Ford in 2017

In September, Tony Stewart told the world that 2016 would be his final year of his Sprint Cup racing career. While that was surprising, Stewart-Haas Racing has dropped an even bigger bomb on us.  For 2017, they will not only lose one of their top drivers, but they’ll be switching from Chevrolets to Ford Fusions in 2017 for their Sprint Cup cars.

They have been with Chevrolet since their inception in 2009. Seven years of success with Chevrolet vehicles and Hendrick Motorsports engines is all going to the wayside for this new deal with Ford. They’ve won two NASCAR Spring Cup championships and 30 point-paying races in Chevy’s, but now they’re taking it a new direction for 2017.

“This new partnership with Ford allows us to strengthen our position in the sport and ensure the long-term stability and success for everyone who is a part of Stewart-Haas Racing,” Tony Stewart said.

Hendrick Motorsports will continue to supply the chassis and engines for the cars, but at the end of this season, the pair will part ways. Roush Yates will take over the engine and chassis production for Stewart-Haas Racing. With Ford being stuck in third place among manufacturers, SHR is taking a leap. A Ford vehicle hasn’t won a Sprint Cup title since 2004 when Kurt Busch won the first Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in one of Jack Roush’s Fords. Hopefully, SHR will make Ford competitive again.