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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Stewart-Haas Racing officials still don’t have a Charter for the No. 41 team fielded by the four-team NASCAR Sprint Cup Series organization, but expect the issue to be resolved very soon.
“We’re working through the finishing touches of the Charter,” Brett Frood, SHR executive vice president, said Friday during a press conference here at Daytona International Speedway. “The 41 will be on the track today.”
Stewart-Haas was awarded three Charters under the new system unveiled by NASCAR on Tuesday, one each for its No. 4, 10 and 14 teams. Eligibility for a Charter, which guarantees a starting position for 36 teams in all points races, required that a team had to attempt to compete in every race since the start of the 2013 season. The No. 41 team, with driver Kurt Busch, was added to the SHR roster after the conclusion of the ’13 season.
It is expected that SHR will purchase one of two Charters awarded to Michael Waltrip Racing, a two-team organization that ended its operations at the conclusion of the 2015 season. Former MWR co-owner Rob Kauffman said earlier this week that “it’s very likely (Joe Gibbs Racing) and Stewart-Haas will probably be acquiring them in the not-too-distant future.”
“Step one was to get them to exist,” he said, “which took us a little work … and now that they exist we can work on moving them around.”
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Frood would only joke when asked about the purchase price, said by some to be in the mid-seven figure range, for the Charter, noting that Kauffman “is a fairly reasonable guy, well-traveled, enjoys cars and fine dining.
“So we came to an agreement — we’re going to give him a lifetime supply of Mobil 1 for his cars (and) we’re going to deliver Jimmy John’s and Busch beer for the next two years.”
The three companies are primary sponsors aligned with Stewart-Haas teams.
JGR also received three Charters under the new system, one each for the Nos. 11, 18 and 20 entries. The No. 19, with driver Carl Edwards, debuted last season.
Teams not receiving Charters, referred to as Open teams, will be required to earn one of four available positions in the starting field each week through qualifying. Should qualifying be canceled due to inclement weather, practice speeds would be used to determine the four Open entries in the field. If there is no on-track activity, owner points would determine those positions.