What If Kyle Larson Went To SHR?

[@TheIceberg]

What do you think would change in NASCAR had Kyle Larson went to SHR instead of Hendrick?

[@JackCallSports]

Erik Jones or Brad Keselowski would be at Hendrick

[@N45C4R24]

Harvick would’ve won more races

[@brittonnevans2208]

Larson wouldn’t’ve gotten that waiver, that’s for sure.

[@LarsonRacingUpdates5]

@@brittonnevans2208 yes he wouldve quit crying about it

[@SaltyFrosticles]

Tony would have stayed engaged (no pun intended) and he wouldn't have pissed away Harvick's last couple of years. I'll be bitter forever

[@JackCallSports]

I think if Larson went to SHR they would’ve gotten Kyle Busch too

[@hengineer]

can you imagine that team, Kevin, Kyle and Kyle. Its entirely possible Kevin doesn't retire because its still fun, as having those 2 as teammates would easily elevate the team in terms of performance, even if they don't have the power of Hendrick.

[@josephharrison5639]

Having the two Kyle’s on the same time sounds like a recipe for confusion

[@Cuhh346]

@@hengineerharvick woulda prob gone as long as mark martin (maybe not harry gant)

[@brianspangler3771]

Larson and Busch on the same team? Holy shit, that would be epic.

[@VanillaSpooks]

I completely agree, that'd totally happen

[@IsaacV24]

I guarantee this is an alternate universe a lot of SHR fans wished existed.

[@tanjirouzumaki144]

The fact chase finished 2nd to Larson so many times in 21 makes me think he would've picked up some of those wins and probably that championship

[@AustinFeltron]

Denny would have at least been the favorite in 2021 if Larson wasn’t there. He went winless through the regular season and still somehow almost stole the regular season championship from Larson. If Larson is in the 14 Hamlin would clear the field at least in points

[@JackCallSports]

As a former intern at SHR The contract was in dry ink It was gonna happen if ford didn’t say no at the last second

[@jacobevenson8702]

Even if Ford said yes I HIGHLY doubt Larson would have went to SHR. The idea of Larson going to Hendrick was talked about as early as 2014 and the legitimate rumors of him going to HMS for the 2021 season started mid to late 2019. From all I heard, Larson in a Hendrick chevy was pretty much a lock before the 2020 season even started, the suspension just forced them to take even more time to figure out how sponsorship would work out.

[@JackCallSports]

@@jacobevenson8702 uh man He was going to go to SHR before ford said no TRUST me I know way more about that whole situation than you do No offense at all

[@jacobevenson8702]

@@JackCallSports I’m not denying anything you said, but who’s to say the exact same scenario didn’t happen at HMS and Chevy was all in while ford wasn’t? Realistically there is no way in my mind that SHR would have been his top pick given the equipment difference and the fact that Rick was clearly willing to fund Larson’s entire first season with the team out of pocket. The entire time it only seemed like he’d go to SHR if the HMS deal fell through.

[@darthhull85]

Yeah I’m sure an intern is privy to those thing. 🙄

[@jacobevenson8702]

@@darthhull85 word about something like that would probably get around pretty quick in all honesty.

[@ParadiseCity1329]

Kahne at one point was supposed to go to SHR as well but Hendrick got him first. Same with Larson

[@crystaljon]

Kahne was reportedly also a contender for the #41 team for 2020 before retirement happened.

[@johnvandeventer8668]

If that happened, I don’t think the team would’ve shut down after the season

[@DV1287]

Too bad Ford didn't want to take him due to his reputation at that point in time. Larson would've been the new Harvick t the team for many years to come no doubt, and would definitely brought in new sponsors. meanwhile, HMS would probably snag Noah Gragson instead to replace Johnson. Ross may have gone to HMS if Gragson stayed in Xfinity in 2021 in this alternate universe.

[@andrewwinslow9315]

A NASCAR Alternate Universe? A Suprise to be sure, but a welcome one at that!

[@Redslayer86]

I love democracy...

[@jareddiamond5133]

What could've happened if Kyle Larson went to Stewart-Haas Racing instead of Hendrick Motorsports? - Martin Truex Jr would be a 3-Time or even a 4-Time NASCAR Cup Series Champion. - SHR wouldn't go downhill (The organization would still contend for wins in 2023, as well as get more wins in 2021 and 2022). - An up-and-coming talent or an experienced veteran would drive the iconic #5 car. - Larson would still be a Playoff Contender (I don't know how far he'll go though).

[@brotatochip7001]

They wouldn’t have brought back the 5 car and SHR was gonna close either way. The only reason they had the 5 car was because they had to rebrand the 48 car. There was no way ally would sponsor Larson but they wanted Larson in the 24/48 half of the hendrick garage. The 88 became the new 48 and the old 48 became the 5. With SHR, you can only elevate equipment so much. In the end, the team still goes belly up because you’re not getting 4 cars consistent finishes.

[@JasonRamme-g9w]

The 88 is coming back with SVG. Truex nearly won in 2018 and 2019.

[@twc621]

I think the last straw for stewart was losing larson. First he was soured by Harvick losing 2020, then Larson at the same time...he was out of fucks to give at that point.

[@cheezysteve27]

WHEN DID KYLE LARSON ROCK A MULLET?? WOAHH

[@lets-go-larson5]

Mullets: the official hairdo of NASCAR

[@cheezysteve27]

@@lets-go-larson5 i feel like every nascar driver has worn the mullet at some point in their career

[@OutlawsRacingNetwork]

2022 i’m pretty sure

[@jacobevenson8702]

where did you even see that...?

[@OutlawsRacingNetwork]

@@jacobevenson8702 thumbnail

[@jring49]

Ford said No, Tony fought tooth and nail to get Kyle in a SHR car. Ford said No, so they deserved this part of the sinking ship.

[@NexXxu]

If Larson went to SHR, i think the team would be top tier Ford, nothing would change my mind than Tony Stewart give the middle finger to Ford and NASCAR after Ford rejected Larson, and Ford reject Larson just to not be canceled in Twitter (and i think this is what pissed Smoke)

[@john7156]

Having Kyle Larson in the 41 car and Kyle Busch in the 10 car in a what if scenario, would have been epic along with Kevin Harvick before his retirement and Chase Briscoe. Tony and Gene would have been more devoted to keeping the team running in my opinion.

[@darthhull85]

He wouldn’t have had a season like 2021 and no title. The only team any driver should pick against HMS is JGR. HMS was and is always going to be the best option. SHR might’ve been better than CGR but not great.

[@CarlosPerez-ge4hc]

What if Kyle Busch went to 23xi Racing instead of RCR racing in 2023.

[@SuperNASCARrocks]

If Larson went to SHR, They probably wouldn’t shut down and lasted longer than they did. They missed out on a generational talent. I do think if he did, Briscoe would stay longer in XFINITY.

[@naparacingfan9275]

He'd run slightly better than he did at CGR. If SHR was allowed to make an offer to Larson, he could've still ended up at HMS anyway.

[@zt5547]

Larson would have same results he had at Ganassi. So 1-3 wins per year and probably a top 10 in points.

[@Greg29fan]

It obviously would have made SHR more competitive but I don't see Larson winning four races in 2021 given HMS's across-the-board advantage in the last year of the Gen6 car that nobody was trying to improve. SHR had lost all their downforce advantage late in 2020 (Rodney Childers has talked about this often) while HMS found something at around the same time that put them in a class of their own.

[@seahawks2483]

What about Gragson? I always saw him coming to HMS after johnson

[@eleazarpyscher8569]

Didn't the original fall off for SHR come from " bad data " for half the year in 2021, which is why they had poor set ups coming to the track?

[@BCat2]

I love these videos, i’d love to see more!

[@LNB1195]

Hendrick and Cliff were the perfect combination for Kyle

[@tyman1014]

Larson probably would have had an uptick in performance after 2020. I don’t think Larson would have carried the team to new heights and got them back to championship contention. I do think Larson could have been in that team leader position that Harvick was in. That guy that could win 1 or 2 races a year, but never a serious championship contender.

[@MCC-fo1oe]

At this point in his career he’s a championship contender regardless of who he’s with

[@KenC4242]

Dude, if SHR would’ve gotten Larson, Kyle Busch would’ve landed there also but FORD fuck both of those situations up for them. Honestly, I don’t see Kevin Harvick retiring as soon as he did.

[@ic3man]

This means Anthony Alfredo would’ve won rookie of the year in 2021 as the lone rookie

[@gnnascarfan2410]

SHR in 2021 was essentially equivalent to CGR.

[@Turn0vers]

Man, this alternate reality hurts. Very tough to root for anyone since I was a big fan of Stewart growing up.

[@votekyle3000]

Keep in mind, Mahindra was a free agent sponsor, Chase didn’t bring them in.

[@zt5547]

Mahindra wasn't gonna sponsor Larson 6 months after his scandal. Nobody was.

[@RC.41]

Cole Custer is one of the best drivers in Nascar, a winner in all 3 series; youngest truck winner in history, and only 24 years old

[@velvetjones1856]

It would depend if Tony Stewart would stay engaged with the team or lose interest for his wife and drag racing. Without leadership, destined to fail. Hendrick has Jeff Gordon to manage these days.

[@KenC4242]

Well, a lot of people blame the Larson situation why he had a fallout. Also Ford denied Kyle Busch also. I think if you add those two guys to your team with Kevin Harvick and he doesn’t retire as soon. And I do think with that talent in the building, Tony Stewart would be very engaged.

[@aaronleesgbclieutenant]

Plot twist: Tony knew in 2020 they were gonna sell the team

[@cito1101]

Probably equally competitive with Kevin Harvick

[@williamnowacki]

Larson’s contract is still with Hendrick until 2026. I can see him going to Indy Car maybe in 2027. I mean this guy is America’s best driver

[@zt5547]

He's not even Hendrick's best driver at this point, let alone America's lol

[@williamnowacki]

@@zt5547 what are you talking about? Larson won the title in 2021 and he’s got more wins than his 3 teammates. They’ve given him fast cars almost every week

[@chrisguardiano6143]

With most likely McLaren being the team in Indycar that signs him given the relationship they have established the past year. I could also see Larson going to F1 with the same team & becoming the first American driver since Mario Andretti to be competitive in F1.

[@zt5547]

@@williamnowacki That was in 2021. But last year & this year Byron's been the best driver on that team

[@zt5547]

@@chrisguardiano6143 Larson is 32. He's already waaaaaaay too old for F1, let alone in the future. Nobody in F1 will hire a 32 year old rookie

[@ATK10155]

Larson would have had a 3rd of the numbers he has now. SHR was only good because Harvick over sold them.

[@timpowell1429]

2021: Hendrick Motorsports: 9 - Chase Elliott 24 - William Byron 48 - Daniel Suárez 88 - Alex Bowman Stewart-Haas Racing: 4 - Kevin Harvick 10 - Aric Almirola 14 - Kyle Larson 41 - Cole Custer 2022: Hendrick Motorsports: 9 - Chase Elliott 24 - William Byron 48 - Matt DiBenedetto 88 - Alex Bowman Stewart-Haas Racing: 4 - Kevin Harvick 10 - Aric Almirola 14 - Kyle Larson 41 - Chase Briscoe 2022: Hendrick Motorsports: 9 - Chase Elliott 24 - William Byron 48 - Matt DiBenedetto 88 - Alex Bowman Stewart-Haas Racing: 4 - Kevin Harvick 10 - Aric Almirola 14 - Kyle Larson 41 - Chase Briscoe 2023: Hendrick Motorsports: 9 - Chase Elliott 24 - William Byron 48 - Matt DiBenedetto 88 - Alex Bowman Stewart-Haas Racing: 4 - Kevin Harvick 10 - Aric Almirola 14 - Kyle Larson 41 - Chase Briscoe 2024: Hendrick Motorsports: 5 - Kyle Larson 9 - Chase Elliott 24 - William Byron 88 - Alex Bowman Stewart-Haas Racing: 4 - Josh Berry 10 - Noah Gragson 14 - Cole Custer 41 - Chase Briscoe

[@ryanschumacher2043]

I feel like if they landed Larson, Smoke and Haas might have been more involved and had pursued Kyle Busch, then line up for 2023 could’ve been Harvick, Briscoe, Larson, and Busch. That might have been a huge difference. Not saying they last another 15 years. But certainly not selling this year

[@dripduck9393]

I'm a huge fan of the 14 shr car since I started watching in 2011. Outside of shr Larson is and has been my favorite driver for a long while. Seeing him drive the 14 was a fantasy I had since like 2014 and the fact that we got so close but it was essentially cock blocked by ford is probably the most brutal moment I've had as a fan across any sport in my life, shit still haunts me to this day

[@bsuqueren]

Your title should be 'What if Kyle Larson Had Gone To SHR?" When I first read it I was like it wouldn't do anything... they are closing. Your title isn't implying in the past. It could also mean right now. lol

[@fishingwithkar4871]

So since you're saying if Kyle was in the 14 car then he couldn't or more than likely wouldn't win a championship. But he was in the five car at Hendrick and he did. So did Kyle Larson win the 21 championship or did Hendrick Motorsports win that championship because they had years to massage the gen-6 car that they themselves built in house.

[@austinemms9772]

It would’ve been a great boon for Stewart, especially for the future. If Larson goes to the #14, they keep Briscoe in Xfinity for another year, they have a better chance at getting Kyle Busch, the other cars are filled by Briscoe and either Custer or another driver. It’s wishful thinking but it’s quite interesting to think about in hindsight.

[@thetechfromheaven]

Alternative title: What if Kyle Larson never said the Gamer word 😂

[@timpowell1429]

Where would've Chastain gone?

[@MonteD1]

Would Haas have been able to find him as well as Hendrick Cars?

[@jordannotov1739]

Can you do What if Joe Gibbs Racing chose Erik Jones over Christopher Bell?

[@lemonjuicegaming6551]

Hendrick won the steal of the decade because boy, it's been a tough hassle for SHR since. They got worse, Harvick retiring after carrying them for the last 3 years, now they're shutting down after the end of this year.

[@louislepage5111]

This is a very good question, a very good what -if 😊

[@fa1509]

Kyle would have went along with Harvick and Kurt staying with Kyle Busch coming on board

[@c.d.8975]

SHR didn't want Larson They got their man They got Ryan Preece (short track ace) Hahahahahaha Hahahahahaha 😂😅😁😀😆😄😃😂🙈☝️🤺🕺🪠

[@ryanstephenson7312]

The real question is does it matter if stewart haas is going out

[@afaiafifa]

I feel we're a bit underestimating larson & SHR in this scenario

[@brotatochip7001]

I definitely don’t think so. I think 4 wins even is a stretch. SHR just wasn’t in a good place.

[@jsimon6467]

man i was hopeful for months that larson was going to fill that 14 seat

[@NASCARFAN93100]

Larson wouldn't be as successful as he is today if that were the case

[@cartanavx]

Chase elliott would have an 7-8 win season in 2021 if that was the case

[@KittyLearnsWebDev.BestPractice]

Larson would also be an NHRA champion and been rippin in TSR midgets and there would be no alternative Sprint car series and Brad Sweet would have won a WoO Championship. Also Owen would have called Leah aunti!

[@TheFastLanewithIsaiah]

I'm just glad he went to Hendrick!

[@braedonshelton2305]

I get the what if scenario. However, do we really think Larson would have chosen Stewart Haas over Hendrick? In my opinion, ain’t no way.

[@LMXPebble]

We're in the good timeline. Larson shines at HMS. He doesn't need to be under a 'project' team.

[@thetechfromheaven]

Yeah, screw "The Program" they screwed over Conor Daly and Chase Briscoe

[@Dupontman627]

Martin Truex Jr is 2021 champion, Ford still sucks for not hiring Larson by the way

[@KenC4242]

Yup, and they also suck for denying Kyle Busch too. Both Kyle’s could’ve been with SHR

[@Dupontman627]

@@KenC4242 Kyle would've been in the #41 like a redeemed Kurt

[@Merica_dadgarage]

I don’t care what Larson “said” you have to think about your team and winning!!! I guarantee Larson woulda been a huge benefit to SHR!

[@tobiojo6469]

If that happened, the team would still be around.

[@wicked.mainah5994]

If Larson went to SHR, he'd have an indy ride with Gene Haas

[@ewayne1918]

To me the alternate timeline makes sense even if Larson went to SHR. nothing much would've changed

[@tobiojo6469]

It would be very weird.

[@dmoran1093]

I don't think it would have mattered. HMS going to get him. Even if he did, i dont think he would have saved shr. Now if dodge decided to come back to nascar and not be so focused on electric, maybe then shr wouldn't be shutting down

[@stephenholloway6893]

If he went to SHR he probably would struggle at first but would get a few wins but not an championship in 21 but probably in 22 or 23at the earliest for that.

[@jimmccauley9099]

You must be a fan of Harry Turtledove.

[@2tuff.saints]

Larson in the 14 would have been a great idea

[@forzainter2894]

If Larson went to SHR he struggles the first year wins couple the second year but is never champ harvick was dragging thos mediocre cars to top tens think in his last 2 season he only had one or maybe two race winning cars and all the rest were top 15 cars he drag in to the top then with his skill

[@freshpescado3000]

What if your mom was your dad? Hypotheticals are bs. Live in the real world.

[@thetechfromheaven]

It's fun to think what could've should've happened if he didn't say the Gamer word 😂👌🏿

[@nineexists6621]

shr was doomed to fail

[@frevazz3364]

This is probably the correct answer. There have been many signs over the years that Haas and Stewart are not on the same page, and eventually they would have closed the team or sold it. But it would be later, down the road, not at the end of 2024.

[@nineexists6621]

@@frevazz3364 perhaps but I feel like no matter what happened this was gonna be the result, without harvick shr has nobody, and larson wouldn't have been enough to save them, even now his main sponsor is hendrick, the "damaged merchandise" reputation he had would probably harm shr even more, given ford didn't want larson driving their cars

[@Eastmetroson]

If he did go to stewart hass,I think the same thing would have happened just in 5 or so years from now. After 2020,he lost credit one,and only 3 sponsors have sponsored him since:Hendrick cars,valvoline,and the all black car he ran at Vegas in 2021 (I don’t remember sponsor)

[@Eastmetroson]

I also don’t think hendrick’s comeback happens until last year or this year

[@silvy3047]

I don't think sponsors are really his problem, Hendrick has said that his name on the car has been very successful

[@lowcruisin7637]

Sorry, I don't do what ifs

[@kenmartin1919]

WTF. Where did this idea come from. 😊

[@johnmunro7548]

They wouldn’t be shutting down

[@richardhogenson594]

Who would drive the 5 if it wasn’t Lawson?

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

Allgaier.

[@thetechfromheaven]

Ross Chastain 💀

[@BillyRicker92]

You can blame Ford not signing him, he was right there for SHR until Ford ruined it.

[@zt5547]

Yeah, let's blame Ford for not wanting a racist to represent their brand ...

[@Atari2600Gamer]

SHR ends up with KB too and it kicks off a 16 year period of dominance where it becomes the Kyle-Kyle show, each winning 8 championships. Their reign is brought to an end when Jimmie Johnson has their aircraft sabotaged in separate incidents, like Junior Johnson did to Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison in '93.

[@joealtamuro]

Larson going to SHR would’ve been like Tom Brady going to the Jets. He should thank his lucky stars every day that Ford effed up and didn’t want him!! I never realized until recently how pathetic & bushleague SHR really was. Harvick explained it best when he compared Hendrick to SHR.

[@thetechfromheaven]

"The Program"is a joke

[@zt5547]

They won 69 races & 2 championships over the past 15 years or so. Yeah, a terrible team lol

[@frankmcclellan9506]

That would not be good for Larson.Stay where you're at larson you got it made

[@mandalorianrailfan8458]

Then he’d be out of a ride cause they’d still shut down

[@petersburg8920]

Agreed. SHR would still be gone. Can't change bad leadership. Forever going forward tony Stewart and Hass will be trash

[@Vibewitkeezy_]

Larson probably would be out of nascar & wouldn’t be who he is today if he went to SHR

[@KenC4242]

Dude, if SHR would’ve gotten Larson, Kyle Busch would’ve landed there also but FORD fuck both of those situations up for them. Honestly, I don’t see Kevin Harvick retiring as soon as he did.

[@shakkjohnson5701]

wouldnt work, SHR is for bad boys, daredevils that get even, racers you dont want to cross, well the old SHR but still, you got to be a badd mamba jamba and take no crap, i agree we def need SHR to either give it up or get back on track tho but larson kinda like a jimmy johnson when spooked will back down

[@crouchb15]

Hendrick would downsize to three cars

[@DISTURBEDINC1993]

Don’t think he would be a champion or have as many wins

[@Nascar4ever2311]

I think this is pretty inaccurate

[@eyeofthescar6890]

Larson would still be struggling to win. He certainly wouldn't have won a🏆

[@derstad7514]

What if.... Hypotheticals are such a waste of time

[@antoniovgmx]

Chip Ganassi Racing all over again.

[@richardmorrisproductions8151]

First

[@3120DownForce]

If Kyle larson would have went to SHR, he'd be looking for a ride in 2025.