Stewart Haas Racing is Due to Win...w/Texas Notes

Sunday saw more of the same for the 2019 Monster Energy Cup Series season: A Joe Gibbs Racing driver wins the race; a Team Penske driver picks up at least one stage win; and Stewart-Haas Racing cars are right there toward the end.

This week’s blog will focus on the latter. Stewart-Haas Racing has had a great 2019 so far, with three races into this still-young season where all four team drivers have finished in the top 10.

Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola each haven’t finished outside the top 10 since Daytona. Clint Bowyer actually competed for a win at Texas and finished a season-best second at Texas. Daniel Suarez notched his third top-10 of 2019 at Texas.

It’s amazing none of these guys have wins under their respective belts yet and it makes me (and perhaps you) wonder “When are they going to win?”

If it’s any consolation, Talladega is three weeks away, and Aric Almirola should be considered a favorite there. Kevin Harvick should also be considered a threat to win every week after last year’s magnificent season (he also won at Dover and Kansas last year, both of which host races in a few weeks). Dover is just four races away, and in all four of Suarez’s starts there, he has finished in the top 10.

SHR won 12 of the Cup Series’ 36 races last year. That’s exactly one third of the season belonging to the operation, and while 2019 has so far been a battle between Gibbs and Penske cars, SHR’s Fords should be considered a factor in winning races each week.

Notes from Texas

• Denny Hamlin came back from two penalties to win at Texas Motor Speedway. Kyle Busch will have to find a way to top that.

• Kyle Larson finished a season-worst 39th after a hard crash. He hasn’t had a top-10 finish since Phoenix. It’s going to be a frustrating year for Kyle Larson fans.

• Jimmie Johnson and William Byron give Hendrick Motorsports fans some hope with respective finishes of 5th and 6th.

• No Penske cars in the top 10? Weird.