Stewart-Haas switch to Ford set be tested

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kevin Harvick has a victory, Aric Almirola should have won the Daytona 500 and Clint Bowyer is running well again — signs that StewartHaas Racing finally may have adjusted to its switch to Ford.

SHR would admit that last year was an off year, its first driving the Fusion after an exclusive Chevrolet partnership. But the team seemed far closer to its expected pace in the Daytona 500, where 2017 winner Kurt Busch and Almirola had chances to win in the closing laps.

Harvick had a dominating victory last week at Atlanta while Bowyer finished third, Busch seventh and Almirola 13th. Next up is Sunday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and Bowyer was the highestfinishing SHR driver there last year at 10th.

The team has looked strong — and closer to equal across the board with the additions of Almirola and Bowyer in place of Danica Patrick and team co-owner Tony Stewart — through two races. But no one is breathing easy just yet.

“It’s a moving target, right?” SHR competition director Greg Zipadelli said. “Absolutely, we’re in a little bit better place. These guys have had a year to work with the (Ford) and understand it and make some little adjustments.”

As SHR and the Ford soars into Las Vegas, the race has become a strong barometer for Chevrolet and its new Camaro.

Camaro drivers Austin Dillon and Bubba Wallace finished 1-2 in the Daytona 500, on top of Alex Bowman’s pole in the debut for the Camaro. Chevy can ride on those victories for months — unless, of course, the Camaro has some catching up to do with the competition.

Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott were the highestfinishing Chevy drivers at Atlanta in ninth and 10th, and there were only six Camaros in the top 20. Remember, Chevy had 17 of the 36 entries at Atlanta, so by default the manufacturer should pull in a decent average finish.

Chevy was long-pressed to make this year’s move to the Camaro, and Las Vegas will be a good indicator of where the car still needs some work.