2020 NASCAR Preview: Stewart-Haas Racing

Photo Credit: Stewart Haas Racing

With the Daytona 500 coming up in a couple of days, we have to include Stewart-Haas Racing in as major contenders. Considered one of the flagship Ford programs…Stewart-Haas Racing had a pretty solid 2019 campaign. Kevin Harvick led the team with 4 victories and all of their drivers but Daniel Suarez made the NASCAR playoffs. Suarez will not be returning to the team this season, as Cole Custer will be called up from the Xfinity Series to take the helm of the #41 car. Stewart-Haas Racing has technically been in the Cup Series since 2002, but were never very competitive until Tony Stewart joined Gene Haas as a co-owner in 2009. The team has 55 Cup victories to their name and don’t expect that number to stay stagnant for the 2020 season. Partners such as Busch Beer, Smithfield, Mobil 1, Peak Antifreeze and Haas keep the team well-funded and supported. Roush Yates engines also give these guys some of the best Ford has to offer as well. 

Photo Credit: USA Today

#4 Kevin Harvick: NASCAR is at a stage where a lot of young drivers fill out the field every week. Kevin Harvick has started in 682 Cup races and with the announcement of his contract extension through 2023, he has a lot more starts to look forward to. For 3 years in a row…Harvick has finished 3rd in the final point standings. His career average finish is 13th and Harvick has gotten a top-10 in 53% of his starts. You could argue that he is the most consistent driver in the sport’s history. The only tracks Harvick has not won at are Kentucy, Pocono, now defunct Rockingham and the Charlotte Roval. Unlike a lot of other NASCAR greats…Harvick has yet to hit a wall in terms of on-track production. You have to wonder when/if that day will come, but when/if it does…it will happen suddenly. Harvick literally performs well at every single track, so look for him to be a favorite week-in and week-out. I have Harvick getting 2 wins, 11 top-5’s and 19 top-10’s this season.

Photo Credit: Stewart-Haas Racing

#10 Aric Almirola: One of the quieter guys on the circuit, Almirola seemed to have an okay 2019 season with 3 top-5’s and 12 top-10’s. The long-time Richard Petty Motorsports driver has picked up his production from his initial start with the Stewart-Haas Racing squad. As far as last season goes, Almirola only contended at one track and that was the Texas race at the end of the year, where he led 62 laps and finished 2nd to his teammate Harvick. Historically, his best two tracks are Phoenix and Talladega with an average finish of 15.3. One thing that keeps him in this ride is his great relationship with Smithfield, they have stuck with Aric since his RPM days. Unfortunately, I feel like 2020 may be rough for Almirola…I have him getting 0 wins, 2 top-5’s and 8 top-10’s. 

Photo Credit: Daily Herald

#14 Clint Bowyer: This driver’s personality is quite different than that of Almirola. Clint Bowyer finished 9th in the points last season and had 7 top-5’s and 18 top-10’s. In terms of performance, every season looks pretty similar for Bowyer. He normally gets double digit top 10’s…close to 7 or so top-5’s and gets a win every so often. Bowyer almost won a championship in 2012 and ever since, he has been a top-10 driver. 2019 was a good qualifying year for the Kansas driver as his average starting position was 10.7. Clint did get a pole last season, which is about as rare as Florida getting a snowstorm. Okay…maybe not quite that rare, but it has snowed in Florida at least 21 times since 2005…Bowyer has 3 poles in 505 starts so yea…it’s pretty rare. I have #14 regressing in 2020 and getting 0 wins, 4 top-5’s and 11 top-10’s.

Photo Credit: Twitter @ColeCuster

#41 Cole Custer: The Rookie from Ladera Ranch, California really came into his own last season in the Xfinity Series. Custer won 7 races and finished 2nd in the points. It was time for Stewart-Haas to call him up as Suarez had a sub-par season. In terms of all of the rookie of the year contenders, Custer probably has the best equipment. The NASCAR Cup Series is so deep and I don’t feel like Custer will be a contender for the 2020 season, but I think it will give us a glimpse of what kind of driver he is capable of being. Patience is the key to Cole being successful for the upcoming season. Speedways that are 1-2 miles seem to be his strength as he has 40 top-10’s in 53 career Xfinity starts at those style of tracks. Custer will get 2 top-5’s and 6 top-10’s in 2020. 

AustYn

References: Jayski, Racing Reference, Stewart-Haas Racing.com, wikipedia on the snow comment