Wednesday, July 29, 2015

2015 Week 21 Preview: Pocono

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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.






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
Race
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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