Stewart-Haas NASCAR team switches from Chevrolet to Ford for 2017
Stewart-Haas Racing will switch from Chevrolet to Ford from the 2017 NASCAR Sprint Cup season
The outfit has run Chevrolets since it was established as Haas CNC Racing in 2003 by new Formula 1 team owner Gene Haas.
Tony Stewart bought into the team in 2009 when he joined as a driver, and SHR currently also fields Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Danica Patrick.
Stewart will be replaced by Clint Bowyer when he retires at the end of this season, with that change to coincide with a switch to Fords in what is described as a multi-year agreement.
"I am proud of our association with Chevrolet as they helped build our organisation into the team it is today," Stewart said.
"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."
The team will join existing Ford squads Team Penske, Roush Fenway Racing, Wood Brothers Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports and Front Row Motorsports.
"We have said very clearly that we are not in NASCAR just to race, but to win races and championships," Ford Performance's global director Dave Pericak said.
"We believe the addition of Stewart-Haas Racing in 2017 will give our programme a major boost in terms of being in contention for both drivers' and manufacturers' championships every year.
"We believe that our NASCAR engineering experience and tools match up very well with the expertise and personnel that Stewart-Haas Racing has in house right now, and that we will both benefit from this partnership going forward."
DILLON IN AT ATLANTA
With Stewart still sidelined for an indefinite period due to a back injury, SHR has confirmed Ty Dillon will stand in for the three-time Cup champion for this weekend's race at Atlanta.
With the Circle Sport Leavine Family Racing team, Dillon finished 25th in last Sunday's Daytona 500, one spot ahead of Brian Vickers, who filled in for Stewart for the season opener.
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