(Left to Right: Kevin Harvick, Chase Briscoe, Aric Almirola, Cole Custer)
After a record setting season for Kevin Harvick in which he won 9 races in 2020...and a Rookie of the year winner in Cole Custer, it seems that Stewart-Haas Racing may have some work to do in 2021.
The 2020 season showed us that oldest driver in the field (45 years of age, Kevin Harvick) is still a championship caliber Cup series driver, but how does the rest of the current SHR stable stack up? Is each driver capable of making the playoffs? Obviously that question will be answered closer to the start of the playoffs come September.
The organization as a whole seems to be going through a period commonly referred to in stick and ball sports as a rebuilding period. Perhaps aging veterans Harvick and Almirola are at the end of their prime performance, I believe the focus now shifts to helping SHR's rising stars Cole Custer and Chase Briscoe to become contenders and carry the team to future championships.
New tracks on the schedule such as Circuit of the Americas, Road America, The Indianapolis Road Course should play right into the wheelhouse of Kevin Harvick and Chase Briscoe especially given their past road course experience and success as well.
The teams have not proven to be a threat to win the championship, but all I can say with 18 races remaining until the playoffs begin is do not count them out. With some good luck and mistake free races anything can happen to be in contention.
Written by: Matt Marr