If consistency was the metric to determine the NASCAR champion, Aric Almirola would have been firmly in contention last season. During the middle part of the season, the Stewart-Haas Racing driver set career highs in top-five finishes, top-ten finishes, and laps led with a stretch of five consecutive top-five finishes. However, a string of poor finishes and some bad luck at Talladega doomed Almirola in the Round of 12. He was unable to push for a championship.