Almirola Bucks Trend in Stewart-Haas Hiring

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

That Emma Lazarus quote is inscribed onto the Statue of Liberty, but it could very well apply to Stewart-Haas Racing, a team that has a penchant for giving grizzled veteran drivers seeking better opportunities newfound success and career rejuvenation.

Just ask the likes of Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart himself.

However, that wasn’t the case Wednesday when SHR announced Aric Almirola as the new driver for the No. 10 ride, replacing Danica Patrick.

While statistically speaking, Almirola is a better replacement for Patrick, SHR could have done much better.

While Harvick continues to be a championship presence and Busch tries to bookend his career comeback, Almirola is a misfit in this operation (along with Clint Bowyer, but we’ll get to that).

In his six years at Richard Petty Motorsports, Almirola has one win (a wreck-filled and weather-mired summer Daytona race in 2014) and 30 top 10’s to his name. The win propelled him to the inaugural knockout-based championship playoffs that year, but he was eliminated after the first round.

Since then, he hasn't been able to replicate 2014's surprise success and has failed to make the Playoffs each year since then.

So who could have SHR scooped up instead?

Enter, Matt Kenseth.

Sure, Kenseth probably only has a couple strong years left in the tank and unfortunately, at least one of those will be wasted on his couch. However, choosing short-term success has been SHR’s strategy since its inception in 2009, and it has led to championships.

Perhaps Kasey Kahne would have also fit in well with SHR. While Kahne’s recent success pales in comparison to Kenseth’s, it still would have translated well to a new team. It wouldn’t be his first time switching manufacturers. Instead, he will serve as mere financial buoyancy for Leavine Family Racing.

So, what exactly is this strategy on SHR’s part to bring in Almirola? It wouldn’t be long-term success; the man is 33-years-old, an elder statesman’s age compared to young upstarts like Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Erik Jones, etc., etc. And that age contrast will only increase with next year’s rookie class.

Almirola is no spring chicken in auto racing years and he also isn't a seasoned veteran trying to defend the old guard. Instead, he fits in the middle, which is his usual position running in races, with the occasional top 10 here and there.

Bowyer is in the same boat after what has been a disappointing 2017 season, but at least Bowyer's history includes brushes with greatness and a runner-up championship finish. So his hiring made perfect sense when you take his situation into the standard SHR talent acquisition strategy.

Almirola meanwhile has never had such success and has been relegated to mid-pack fodder for most of his time in the Cup Series.

The good news however for Almirola is Smithfield seems confident enough in him to continue sponsorship. Considering Patrick's problems with sponsorship, it's probably a big relief to SHR to see some stability on that end with Almirola. Obviously, Stewart has confidence in him considering the two's history, which surprisingly runs deeper than at first glance.

With SHR being a top-tier team, this should theoretically translate to better success for Almirola in 2018 and onward. Compared to other drivers in the free agency pool however, it just makes you wonder.