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Pocono Raceway
By Richard Tix
Once again NASCAR Behind the Wall leads into the weekend preview by stating Kyle Busch just came off another trip to victory lane. Will it finally end this weekend? One would think so, but I am no longer putting it past Kyle.
So, we head back to Pocono for the second time this season. Earlier this year Martin Truex Jr finally got that win he has been reaching for all season (and for a few seasons before this). It was a feel good moment on the 2015 season.
The second time around could pose the same if another win-less 2015 driver can notch a win and get into the Chase. We know Rowdy has all but locked up his spot in the top 30 (32nd right now), so the Chase spots just decided on points are starting to thin out, you need a win...
So, each race that passes drivers will be needing that win more and more so the action should pick up. But, who has a chance on Sunday at Pocono? Check out the following to get a feel for Pocono Raceway and its past.
So, we head back to Pocono for the second time this season. Earlier this year Martin Truex Jr finally got that win he has been reaching for all season (and for a few seasons before this). It was a feel good moment on the 2015 season.
The second time around could pose the same if another win-less 2015 driver can notch a win and get into the Chase. We know Rowdy has all but locked up his spot in the top 30 (32nd right now), so the Chase spots just decided on points are starting to thin out, you need a win...
So, each race that passes drivers will be needing that win more and more so the action should pick up. But, who has a chance on Sunday at Pocono? Check out the following to get a feel for Pocono Raceway and its past.
The Good
- Jeff Gordon- Earlier this year Gordon broke his three straight top 10 streak with a 14th place finish, but that doesn't mean he stopped knowing how to get around at Pocono. He still has a consistent 31 top 10's in 45 career starts.
- Kyle Larson- In only 3 career starts Larson has 1 Pole, 1 top 5, and two top 10's to go along with a 8.0 average finish (Cup best). It's a short amount of time to take stats from, but his worst finish is still only 11th in the second 2014 race.
- Jimmie Johnson- The past two years JJ hasn't qualified as well here like he did previously (2013 two Poles), but he still has been getting some pretty good results. In his last ten races he has 1 win, 5 top 5's, and 7 top 10's (9 top 15's).
- Extra Credit- Kevin Harvick
The Middle
- Brad Keselowski- The thing about BK at Pocono lately is, he either has one of the best cars or he is finishing outside the top 15. Earlier this year he finished 17th, but in the first race last year he almost won. Take your pick.
The Bad
- Paul Menard- Menards last 5 starts at Pocono? Not pretty. Three of them were outside the top 30 (one was exactly 30th) and all four of them outside the top 25. Early in his career he was almost equally as bad but at least finished in the top 30 most of the time. I wouldn't bet on Paul this weekend.
- AJ Allmendinger- 15 starts and zero top 10's (last top 10 was 2010). In his last 6 races he has 5 finishes outside the top 30 and all 6 outside the top 20. AJ has been doing himself no favors by starting outside 20th 5 times in the last 8 races and outside the top 15 in all 8.
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr- Its a short track record (5 starts) but so far, not so good. He does have one top 15 (15th in 2014), but other than that he only has two top 25's and 3 top 30's.
About the Track: Pocono Raceway
Track Stats
- Of current drivers, Jeff Gordon has the most wins (6). Followed by Denny Hamlin (4)
- Of current drivers Jeff Gordon also has the most top 5's (19). Followed by Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch (12)
- Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin have the most Pole's of current drivers (3)
- Jeff Gordon has the most career Pocono wins (6) followed by Bill Elliott (5)
- Mark Martin has the most career Pocono top 5's (20) followed by Gordon (19)
- Ricky Rudd has the most career Pocono starts (55) followed by Mark Martin (54)
- Of drivers with at least 10 Pocono starts, Davey Allison has the best average finish (9.8 in 13 starts).
- A Pocono race has been won from the Pole 15 times in 75 Cup races
- Chevy has won the last 6 races and 7 of the last 9. Including Dale Earnhardt Jr sweeping in 2014.
- The furthest back anyone has started and won was 29th in 2005 when Carl Edwards won in the first Pocono stop of the year
Track Info
- Surface: Asphalt
- Length: 2.5 Miles
- Banking
- Turn 1: 14 degrees
- Turn 2: 8 degrees
- Turn 3: 6 degrees
Pocono
Raceway
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Race
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Date
|
Cars
|
Winner(s)
|
St
|
Make / Model
|
1974-20
|
8/4/1974
|
35
|
Richard Petty
|
3
|
'74 Dodge
|
1975-18
|
8/3/1975
|
35
|
David Pearson
|
2
|
'73 Mercury
|
1976-18
|
8/1/1976
|
40
|
Richard Petty
|
5
|
Dodge
|
1977-18
|
7/31/1977
|
35
|
Benny Parsons
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1978-18
|
7/30/1978
|
40
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1979-19
|
7/30/1979
|
39
|
Cale Yarborough
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1980-19
|
7/27/1980
|
40
|
Neil Bonnett
|
2
|
Mercury
|
1981-19
|
7/26/1981
|
35
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
1
|
Buick
|
1982-13
|
6/6/1982
|
37
|
Bobby Allison
|
3
|
Buick
|
1982-18
|
7/25/1982
|
36
|
Bobby Allison
|
4
|
Buick
|
1983-14
|
6/12/1983
|
38
|
Bobby Allison
|
7
|
Buick
|
1983-18
|
7/24/1983
|
40
|
Tim Richmond
|
1
|
Pontiac
|
1984-14
|
6/10/1984
|
39
|
Cale Yarborough
|
12
|
Chevrolet
|
1984-18
|
7/22/1984
|
40
|
Harry Gant
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1985-13
|
6/9/1985
|
40
|
Bill Elliott
|
1
|
Ford
|
1985-16
|
7/21/1985
|
40
|
Bill Elliott
|
2
|
Ford
|
1986-13
|
6/8/1986
|
40
|
Tim Richmond
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1986-16
|
7/20/1986
|
40
|
Tim Richmond
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
1987-12
|
6/14/1987
|
40
|
Tim Richmond
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1987-16
|
7/19/1987
|
40
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
16
|
Chevrolet
|
1988-13
|
6/19/1988
|
40
|
Geoffrey Bodine
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1988-16
|
7/24/1988
|
40
|
Bill Elliott
|
2
|
Ford
|
1989-13
|
6/18/1989
|
38
|
Terry Labonte
|
23
|
Ford
|
1989-16
|
7/23/1989
|
40
|
Bill Elliott
|
14
|
Ford
|
1990-13
|
6/17/1990
|
40
|
Harry Gant
|
16
|
Oldsmobile
|
1990-16
|
7/22/1990
|
39
|
Geoffrey Bodine
|
4
|
Ford
|
1991-13
|
6/16/1991
|
37
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
13
|
Chevrolet
|
1991-16
|
7/21/1991
|
40
|
Rusty Wallace
|
10
|
Pontiac
|
1992-13
|
6/14/1992
|
40
|
Alan Kulwicki
|
6
|
Ford
|
1992-16
|
7/19/1992
|
40
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
8
|
Chevrolet
|
1993-13
|
6/13/1993
|
40
|
Kyle Petty
|
8
|
Pontiac
|
1993-17
|
7/18/1993
|
40
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
11
|
Chevrolet
|
1994-13
|
6/12/1994
|
42
|
Rusty Wallace
|
1
|
Ford
|
1994-17
|
7/17/1994
|
42
|
Geoffrey Bodine
|
1
|
Ford
|
1995-13
|
6/11/1995
|
42
|
Terry Labonte
|
27
|
Chevrolet
|
1995-17
|
7/16/1995
|
41
|
Dale Jarrett
|
15
|
Ford
|
1996-13
|
6/16/1996
|
41
|
Jeff Gordon
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1996-17
|
7/21/1996
|
41
|
Rusty Wallace
|
13
|
Ford
|
1997-13
|
6/8/1997
|
42
|
Jeff Gordon
|
11
|
Chevrolet
|
1997-18
|
7/20/1997
|
42
|
Dale Jarrett
|
4
|
Ford
|
1998-15
|
6/21/1998
|
43
|
Jeremy Mayfield
|
3
|
Ford
|
1998-18
|
7/26/1998
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1999-15
|
6/20/1999
|
43
|
Bobby Labonte
|
3
|
Pontiac
|
1999-19
|
7/25/1999
|
43
|
Bobby Labonte
|
4
|
Pontiac
|
2000-15
|
6/19/2000
|
43
|
Jeremy Mayfield
|
22
|
Ford
|
2000-19
|
7/23/2000
|
43
|
Rusty Wallace
|
2
|
Ford
|
2001-15
|
6/17/2001
|
43
|
Ricky Rudd
|
1
|
Ford
|
2001-20
|
7/29/2001
|
43
|
Bobby Labonte
|
11
|
Pontiac
|
2002-14
|
6/9/2002
|
43
|
Dale Jarrett
|
13
|
Ford
|
2002-20
|
7/28/2002
|
43
|
Bill Elliott
|
1
|
Dodge
|
2003-14
|
6/8/2003
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
2003-20
|
7/27/2003
|
43
|
Ryan Newman
|
1
|
Dodge
|
2004-14
|
6/13/2004
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
2004-20
|
8/1/2004
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
14
|
Chevrolet
|
2005-14
|
6/12/2005
|
43
|
Carl Edwards
|
29
|
Ford
|
2005-20
|
7/24/2005
|
43
|
Kurt Busch
|
2
|
Ford
|
2006-14
|
6/11/2006
|
43
|
Denny Hamlin
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2006-20
|
7/23/2006
|
43
|
Denny Hamlin
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-14
|
6/10/2007
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
18
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-21
|
8/5/2007
|
43
|
Kurt Busch
|
2
|
Dodge
|
2008-14
|
6/8/2008
|
43
|
Kasey Kahne
|
1
|
Dodge
|
2008-21
|
8/3/2008
|
43
|
Carl Edwards
|
15
|
Ford
|
2009-14
|
6/7/2009
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2009-21
|
8/3/2009
|
43
|
Denny Hamlin
|
6
|
Toyota
|
2010-14
|
6/6/2010
|
43
|
Denny Hamlin
|
5
|
Toyota
|
2010-21
|
8/1/2010
|
43
|
Greg Biffle
|
12
|
Ford
|
2011-14
|
6/12/2011
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
2011-21
|
8/7/2011
|
43
|
Brad Keselowski
|
13
|
Dodge
|
2012-14
|
6/10/2012
|
43
|
Joey Logano
|
1
|
Toyota
|
2012-21
|
8/5/2012
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
27
|
Chevrolet
|
2013-14
|
6/9/2013
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2013-21
|
8/4/2013
|
43
|
Kasey Kahne
|
18
|
Chevrolet
|
2014-14
|
6/8/2014
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
8
|
Chevrolet
|
2014-21
|
8/3/2014
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
2015-14
|
6/7/2015
|
43
|
Martin Truex, Jr.
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
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