With the same drivers competing against each other week to week, it’s inevitable that some are linked to each other by some common theme or developing storyline.

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Some are linked because they have driven for the same teams, or in some cases, replaced each other.

Some are teammates, or former teammates. Some are former rivals, or drivers that still might have a feud brewing.

Some are fellow rookies, and some are simply in love.

Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll take a look at 10 driver match-ups worth watching this season. Each head-to-head comparison features drivers who have something in common that give them added incentive to beat each other on the track.

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SN’s Bob Pockrass and Jeff Owens will analyze the match-ups and offer their opinions on which driver will have the better season.


Kevin Harvick vs. Ryan Newman


Harvick and Newman essentially swapped teams during the offseason, with Harvick replacing Newman at Stewart-Haas Racing and Newman winding up at Richard Childress Racing, Harvick’s former team.

Both are consistent winners who are accustomed to making the Chase. Harvick has 23 career victories to Newman’s 17 and has had the edge in recent years, finishing third in points in three of the past four seasons.

Which one has the edge this season?

Bob Pockrass — Newman

This is a case of the grass isn’t always greener on the other side for Harvick. There’s an opportunity for Newman to overachieve at RCR. And there’s a possibility that Harvick will underachieve at SHR.

Harvick is stepping into an organization in transition, trying too quickly to expand to four teams. Part of that expansion is Harvick working with a crew that was put together in the offseason, a crew that has never worked together before. This isn’t like Matt Kenseth going to Joe Gibbs Racing where the crew already was established and had a history of winning with Tony Stewart. This is a new crew, and while crew chief Rodney Childers is talented, it certainly could take time for this team to find its chemistry.

There also is no guarantee that Harvick will thrive with a team run by good friend Tony Stewart. Will Stewart act as an enabler to Harvick’s potentially destructive outbursts?

Jeff Owens — Harvick

Simple logic dictates that Newman might struggle at RCR. Newman has been inconsistent for several years, struggling at Penske Racing and then having an up-and-down tenure at Stewart-Haas Racing. Newman won four races in five years at SHR and made the Chase three times but never finished better than ninth in points. Now he joins RCR’s No. 31 team, which struggled the past three seasons with Jeff Burton.

RCR has had a tough time fielding more than one contending team the last few years. Can Newman be that guy in his first year with the organization? Or will he take a backseat to rookie Austin Dillon, Childress’ grandson and the driver inheriting Harvick’s former team?

Harvick, meanwhile, joins an organization that won the Cup championship in 2011 and generally appears to be ahead of RCR thanks to its affiliation with Hendrick Motorsports.

Though Harvick finished third in points three times at RCR, he was often unhappy with his team and performance. He seems ecstatic to be joining Stewart-Haas and is determined to be a consistent frontrunner. Stewart no doubt will make sure he has the best chance possible.

It would not be surprising to see Harvick have a Matt Kenseth-like year in his first season with his new team.