The new lineup at Stewart-Haas Racing has elevated the organization to one of the premier Sprint Cup contenders in 2014.
All-Stars Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, and Kurt Busch are projected to challenge Hendrick Motorsports' dominance right out of the gate, and they will do so with Hendrick's own engines, an equalizer that will showcase both organization's drivers' talents and ability to adapt to track conditions.
Smoke was the driver that dethroned Jimmie Johnson after his winning five consecutive Sprint Cups, and now he will have a supporting cast capable of repeating the feat -- and replacing Hendrick as the top stable in the Sprint Cup Series.
Here is a ranking of the two organization's driver depth and how they compare:
#1 Kevin Harvick vs. #1 Jimmie Johnson
Smoke may surpass Happy Harvick early for the top spot at S.H.R., but he has to prove he has fully overcome his leg injury first. That being said, Happy will be racing Jimmie for the first time with Hendrick horsepower, and the head-to-head competition has all the makings of Harvick improving from keeping pace at the front (with E.C.R. engines) to winning more consistently.
Next season may just be business as usual for Jimmie, but after finishing third in the Sprint Cup standingsthree times in the last four years, Happy Harvick will now undoubtedly challenge for the title for years to come. Racing the same engines, it is Harvick's best opportunity to prove that he is as talented as Jimmie, and could become as accomplished as well.
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