Who'll win first at SHR: Aric Almirola or Clint Bowyer?

Will it be Almirola with his renewed sense of purpose at one of NASCAR’s premier organizations? Or will it be Clint Bowyer, who after a year in the No. 14 Ford has had ample time to adapt to the systems at SHR?

I need to contribute to the team and I want to go out and win races

Aric Almirola

After a year under the Ford Performance banner, the transition from Chevy—no matter how difficult—can no longer be used as an excuse.  The recent speed exhibited by the Nos. 4 and 41 cars driven by former Cup champions and SHR teammates Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch is unmistakable. 

Showing progress

Even Almirola has noticed, and he’s motivated by the results.

“They’ve gotten on a roll,” Almirola said of his future home. “It was a big undertaking for them to switch manufacturers, but when you just look at how fast their cars have gotten in the last 10 weeks, that is really encouraging for me and I think the timing couldn’t be more perfect to come in here after they have a year under their belt with working with everybody at Ford and Ford Performance on getting their cars where they need to be and the last 10 weeks you’ve seen their cars.  

“Kurt Busch qualified on the pole (at Texas) and set a new track record this weekend. Harvick won the race, so they’re poised to come out of the box strong and I think the timing is absolutely perfect.  I’m excited to be in the car. I know I keep saying I’m excited, but it’s because it’s true. I am beyond excited and I think that we can go out and contend for wins and make the Playoffs.”

SHR team co-owner Tony Stewart is confident Almirola can accomplish the task at hand. 

“We don’t know until we get on the race track, obviously,” Stewart said. “The thing to always remember is it’s always about chemistry. Obviously, all four teams have the same cars. It's just a matter of chemistry and how they communicate with each other. 

“I knew that if we had the right opportunity to get him in the system that I think we can do great things together. That time is now and we’re excited to finally give him that opportunity to showcase his talent.”

Confident he can get the job done

Almirola, 33, is in his sixth full season on the Cup tour. He has one win (Daytona, July 2014), one pole, 11 top fives and 31 top 10s in 242 starts. He’s led 176 circuits in 66,763 laps raced, including two this year in the Daytona 500. 

Although it’s been 117 starts since Almirola’s last win, he’ll have the benefit of a fully-funded car with the support of Smithfield.

“I’ve had success at every other level that I’ve ever been in,” Almirola said. “I’ve won Xfinity races. I’ve won Truck races. I won Daytona in a Cup car, so I think, for me, I want to go win. I think anything short of winning and making the Playoffs would be a disappointment, but, at the same time, I think the competition is tough.”

Almirola’s only appearance in the Cup Playoffs came in 2014 after transferring with his Daytona win. He was on a roll with the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports team earlier this season before a vicious wreck at Kansas sidelined him for seven races. 

Bowyer last competed in the 2015 Playoffs and finished 16th. The 12-year Cup veteran has qualified for the post-season eight times, with a career-high finish of second in 2012—his first season at Michael Waltrip Racing with crew chief Brian Pattie. He’s currently 18th in the Cup standings.

Bowyer, 38, has amassed eight wins, two poles, 64 top fives and 180 top 10s in 431 starts. But it has been 183 races since his last win at Charlotte in 2012. 

Ending their winless streaks

So where are Bowyer and Almirola likely to end their droughts?

Both drivers have been stellar at restrictor plate tracks over the years. Bowyer has two victories at Talladega, but he has also run well at short tracks such as Richmond and Loudon where he’s picked up a pair of wins. His best track? Sonoma where he won in 2012 and enjoys a career-best average finish of 10.7. This season, Bowyer has posted top-five finishes on both road courses, Bristol, Martinsville, Fontana and Daytona. He could win at any of the aforementioned venues, the No. 14 team just needs to put an entire race together. 

Almirola’s top results have come on restrictor plate and short tracks. All three of his top-five finishes in 2017 came at either Daytona or Talladega. His three best average finishes are on tracks of a mile or less. In the Xfinity Series, Almirola's three wins include the Milwaukee Mile and the two restrictor-plate tracks and that's likely where his next win will be. However, to be a perennial contender, Almirola must improve his intermediate track game. 

For now, it appears Almirola wants more than just a participation trophy. And at SHR, the opportunity exists to win.

“I want to win races,” Almirola said. “They have obviously proven that they can win races. They can qualify on poles. They can win races. They can win championships and I need to be in that mix. I need to be able to help elevate my teammates. I need to contribute to the team and I want to go out and win races, and I think that’s the best way I know how to contribute.”