When Stewart-Haas Racing announced that they’d be switching to Fords in 2017, a shockwave could be felt through NASCAR nation with the reaction from various parties. The news wasn’t just a shock for fans, though, as Jimmie Johnson stated this past weekend that it was a shock for him, as well.
Johnson commented it was a shock to hear considering how long both Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick have been associated with the brand. He added that he was also surprised to hear how long they had kept it a secret.
SHR currently has close ties with Hendrick Motorsports, as they use the team’s chassis and engines, while having a technical alliance. Following the announcement from SHR, Hendrick Motorsports’ General Manager Doug Duchardt released a statement stating that they’d “continue to provide SHR’s teams with engines and chassis in 2016, and those programs will be supported appropriately”. It was a statement that was echoed by Johnson, as well.
“We have contracts in place with Stewart-Haas Racing that Hendrick (Motorsports) has to honor and will honor and honor with integrity and the way that we always do,” Johnson said. “We have a lot of employees whose jobs count on that and rely on that. Nothing is different this year.”
The dynamics of these relationships are intriguing for many fans, especially when someone takes the equipment from a team and beats them with it. That was the case last year on several occasions as Harvick managed to dominate quite a few events. Johnson says that while it’s not fun to be beat by your own equipment, it’s motivational at the same time.
“We know that we have been getting out run by our own stuff. It’s helped us, maybe find a direction in where to work a little easier,” he said.
Beyond this year, though, things are certainly set to change as SHR makes the shift over to Ford and begins to build their own chassis. Though while everyone has been focused on the shockwave at SHR’s end, there are concerns brewing at HMS surrounding the employees that are involved in that program.
“Fortunately, we have a year to figure out if we want to service some other teams and provide engines and chassis or how we handle it. I know Rick’s (Hendrick) goal is to keep the staff where it is,” Johnson commented. “That gets me excited because if we maintain the staff I think we will be able to develop that much more cool stuff for our race cars. It’s going to be tough to figure out how to fund it. There is no way around that, but I think this could be and will be really good for Hendrick Motorsports in the long run.”
Johnson added that it’d good to have the news in hand as now “giving Rick Hendrick 12 months to figure out how to make it work is the exciting part”.
“I feel like Hendrick Motorsports is going to be stronger yet come 2017,” he continued.