2015 Team Spotlight Preview: Stewart Haas Racing

SHR 2015 Season Preview

By Richard Tix

2014 Season Review

2014 Season Stats for Returning Drivers

Races: 141

Wins: 6

Top 5: 23

Top 10: 41

Pole: 9

2014 Chase Drivers: 2

If Kevin Harvick wasn't added to this team in the offseason then the view of SHR in 2014 would be completely different. That's because most of the team struggled all season long except Harvick who was one of the best cars week to week and won his first Sprint Cup Championship.

Harvick accumulated 5 of SHR's 6 wins, 14 of 23 top 5's, 20 of 41 top 10's, and 8 of 9 poles. Take away Harvick and you have a very poor team season considering many think of SHR as a top team. The nice thing about winning a Championship? It covers up all those other short comings the team may have had.

The hardest thing for me to put my finger on is how Harvick was so much better than Stewart and Kurt last year. Part of it was Harvick was just better, but it seemed like the other three drivers never had the speed Harvick did.

Now, I don't want to take anything away from Harvick, but it seemed like Stewart wasn't 100% all year and then had too many issues distracting him, same with Kurt. If SHR figures it out again like they did early in 2014 watch out because Harvick and Stewart will be on a mission.

It's not an easy task to repeat in NASCAR but Harvick could have a real shot if SHR gets the new package figured out before everyone else.

Kevin Harvick

• Not much to say here that hasn't already. Harvick had one heck of a first season with SHR in 2014 and will look to continue it in 2015. He is in the middle of his prime and still should have some years left to get Championship number two.

Tony Stewart

• I have to believe he wasn't 100% all year in 2014. Stewart isn't young anymore but he still has a lot of fight and desire left, meaning 2015 might be a big year for him. He looked good to go at this years Media Tour so I think he gets back to his winning ways in 2015.

Kurt Busch

• Kurt, not Smoke, was the other driver in the Chase last season. That was all due to his awesome win at Martinsville in 2014, but that racing never translated to other tracks last year. He will need to figure it out in 2015 or he could be one of the more disappointing acquisitions in NASCAR for SHR.

Danica Patrick

• 2014 was Danica's second full season at the Cup level. Again, she entered the season and most fans expectations were not through the roof since she is still learning on the job. She did take a small step in the right direction last year, but year three will be important in the development stage. Also, she is entering her last year under contract with SHR, but both sides have stated they would like to reach a deal. Hopefully the thought of having that hover over the season doesn't hinder her development in year 3.