CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Stewart-Haas Racing gave Kevin Harvick the crew from Tony Stewart’s 2011 championship on Tuesday in a move to strengthen Harvick’s title chances in his first year with the team.

Harvick has been critical of the No. 4 team’s pit stops this season and said after Saturday night’s regular-season finale that it had to be addressed for him to have a shot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

With Stewart, the co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, not eligible for the Chase, the organization moved the No. 14 crew to Harvick.

“We made this change in the best interests of the entire organization,” vice president of competition Greg Zipadelli said. “Our primary goal is to win races and championships, and this pit crew swap provides championship experience to the No. 4 team and continued race-winning experience to the No. 14 team.”

The team did not make a change to the crew of Kurt Busch, who also made the Chase for SHR.

Harvick has had one of the strongest cars all season but has just two wins to show for his career-best 1,186 laps led.