Stewart-Haas Racing was the team to beat in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series last year. At this point last season, they had won seven of the 15 races. In fact, in the June race at the Michigan International Speedway, they went 1-2-3 in the rain shortened event.

Fast forward to this year. Over the last 35 races, they’ve only reached victory lane just three times, one of this being at Texas last November which was later ruled an L-1 penalty. They’ve been shut out of victory lane in general in 2019. 

Could Michigan be the place the winless drought ends? They swept both races on the 2-mile oval last year and after the two practice sessions run on Friday, they look like the clear cut favorites to win again for Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 (2 p.m. ET/FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

SHR drivers led each of the two practices with Daniel Suarez topping the speed charts in session No. 1 with a lap of 188.882 mph in his No. 41 Ford. His teammate Clint Bowyer was second quickest in his No. 14 Ford with turning in a speed of 188.659 mph.

Austin Dillon (188.501 mph), Joey Logano (188.034 mph) and Kyle Larson (187.901 mph) rounded out the top five in the first session.

In final practice, Kevin Harvick led the way in his No. 4 Ford. Harvick, has six runner-up finishes at Michigan since joining SHR in 2013 including a top two result in both races run a year ago. He circled the track with a speed of 188.763 mph in the second and final session.

Last weeks winner Kyle Busch was second quick in his No. 18 Toyota. Busch, set a time of 188.729 mph. Bowyer (188.477 mph), Suarez (188.157 mph) and Aric Almirola (187.926 mph) rounded out the top five and gave SHR all four cars in the top five of the speed chart in final practice.

Kurt Busch was sixth quick in his No. 1 Chevrolet with a speed of 187.857 mph. The top non Busch or SHR driver was Erik Jones (187.813 mph) in seventh.

It wasn’t just quick speed on short run laps either for SHR. Harvick, was fourth in both practice sessions respectively on the 10 lap average chart. Bowyer, was first and eight respectively himself. Suarez, was sixth and first respectively. Almirola, was 12th and second respectively but he was quickest on the 15 lap and 20 lap averages in final practice too.

This bodes really well for SHR for the remainder of the weekend.