Is bigger better for expanded Stewart-Haas Racing?

With the addition of a fourth car for Kurt Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing beefed up its organization this offseason. The challenge now is getting all four teams operating at a high level, which wont be easy.

With a pair of high-profile additions in Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch, along with the continual recovery of Tony Stewart, there is no shortage of intrigue at Stewart-Haas Racing this offseason.

A switchover to the Generation 6 car combined with the expansion of a third full-time team for Danica Patrick put SHR in hole the team wouldn't climb out of until late spring. The breakout began with a Stewart victory at Dover, who followed his triumph with five top-10s in the next eight races.

Stewart's season, however, came to an end abruptly Aug. 5 when he broke his leg in a sprint car accident. He missed the final 15 events of the year, and the three drivers who filled his seat (Max Papis, Austin Dillon and Mark Martin) did so with tepid results.

With Stewart on the sidelined and removed from title contention, the onus fell on Ryan Newman to carry the SHR banner. The veteran did so admirably. On the strength of his victory in the Brickyard 400, Newman qualified for the Chase for the Sprint Cup, and notched six finishes of 10th or better in the playoffs.

The success enjoyed by her teammates during the second half of the season did not manifest itself for Patrick. The rookie struggled mightily, and her sterling eighth-place finish in the Daytona 500 was her only top-10 of the year.

Patrick repeatedly had difficulty in qualifying, with a dismal average starting position of 30.1 -- third worst among all drivers who competed in all 36 races. Most troublesome was her inability to improve as the season progressed and she gained experience, as Patrick had just one finish better than 20th in the final 18 races.

Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Budweiser Chevrolet); Danica Patrick (No. 10 Go Daddy Chevrolet); Tony Stewart (No. 14 Mobile 1/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet); Kurt Busch (No. 41 Haas Automation)

Few if any teams have undergone the upheaval that SHR has experienced within the previous six months. In fact, it might be easier to list what hasn't changed than what has, including the departure of Newman, who was let go to make room for the addition of Harvick, and the out-of-nowhere signing of Busch.

Furthermore, SHR has also brought crew chiefs Chad Johnston and Rodney Childers on board, both of whom were previously with Michael Waltrip Racing. Johnston will lead the No. 14 team and replaces Steve Addington, who never quite meshed with Stewart. Childers, who is held in high regard in the garage, was brought over specifically to pair with Harvick. As for Busch, he will work with first-year crew chief Daniel Knost, a former engineer for Newman.

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Is bigger better for expanded Stewart-Haas Racing?