MIKE BUGAREWICZ - 01/22/1982
Mike Bugarewicz was promoted from lead engineer for Kevin Harvick and the No. 4 team to crew chief for Tony Stewart in 2016. He would lead Stewart to his final career win; five Top 5 finishes and a 15th place finish in the points. He remained with the No. 14 crew after Stewart retired and Bowyer came on board. After spending 28-races with Bugarewicz in 2016, Stewart believed the engineer-turned-crew chief would be a calming influence on Bowyer. In their initial season together Bowyer posted six Top 5 finishes; three times coming in second. Bowyer and Bugarewicz had a good season in 2018. After Bowyer had been winless for so long; they pulled off a win at Martinsville. It was only the second win for Bugarewicz, with the other coming in 2016 with Tony Stewart at the wheel. Before the season was over Bowyer would grab a second win. This time in a rain shortened event at Michigan. As the season went along their performance seemed to taper off, as they were only able to
post five more Top 5 finishes the rest of the season. They would finish 12th in the season points. Stewart-Haas Racing kept the pair together for 2019. In 2019 Bowyer only posted seven Top 5 finishes with a season best second at Texas. They managed to point their way into the Chase but were eliminated after the second round. After a dismal season for both Clint Bowyer and Aric Almirola major changes were made. The crew chiefs between the two drivers were swapped at seasons end with Bugarewicz moving to head up the efforts of Aric Almirola for 2020. Johnny Klausmeier will move over to head up Bowyers efforts in 2020 as Bugarewicz will lead Almirola. Mike and Aric had an up and down season in 2020. Things got off to a slow start as the only had three Top 10 finishes in the first eleven races. Then, like they flipped a switch, Almirola busted off five finishes in the Top 5 and ten Top 10's in eleven races. He made the Chase via points and had a worst finish of ninth in Round One; but in round Two the wheels fell off as the duo had finishes of 17th. 37th and 16th; which eliminated them from the Chase. Mike and Aric had an up and down season in 2020. Things got off to a slow start as the only had three Top 10 finishes in the first eleven races. Then, like they flipped a switch, Almirola busted off five finishes in the Top 5 and ten Top 10's in eleven races. He made the Chase via points and had a worst finish of ninth in Round One; but in round Two the wheels fell off as the duo had finishes of 17th, 37th, and 16th; which eliminated them from the Chase. Bugarewicz and Almirola worked together again in 2021. The Stewart-Haas team struggled all season. This pairing was the only team in the organization to get a win all season. It came at New Hampshire where Almirola would outrun Christopher Bell to claim the win. The rest of the season didn’t show a lot of positive actions. Almirola only managed two Top 5 and five Top 10’s. Mike moved to be Director of Performance at SHR in 2022. Almirola's new crew chief would be Drew Blickensdurfer.
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