Dale Earnhardt Jr. crosses the finish line to win the Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 8, 2014. [Credit: NASCAR Via Getty Images]
By Dan Margetta and John Wiedemann
There is nothing “cookie-cutter” about the Axalta 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race this weekend at the Pocono International Raceway as the series takes to the uniquely triangular shaped track for the first time in 2015. Pocono features three relatively flat distinct turns connected by long straightaways where horsepower has been a key factor in the past.
Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 Pocono Raceway 400 miles (160 laps) Sunday, June 7 1pm ET FOX Sports 1, 11:30am ET
MRN, Sirius XM Ch. 90
This season with an overall reduction of horsepower, the corner speeds have been way up and with the cars moving through the turns faster and the drivers on the throttle more, the engines are working harder which could make the 400 mile race distance an issue for the engine builders.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series summer run starts Sunday with the Axalta 500 from Pocono and here are a few drivers to watch…
Denny Hamlin (Dan Margetta)
If Jimmie Johnson was the “King” of Dover last weekend, Denny Hamlin could be crowned the “King” of Pocono as he holds four victories here to go along with nine top five finishes and 12 top ten results. Hamlin is also very good at the flat tracks similar to Pocono and he finished 4th here last season with an underpowered car. The Toyotas have certainly found some speed in recent weeks and they are now regularly in the mix speed wise so Hamlin should perform well this weekend and he comes into Pocono with extremely attractive 10-1 odds to win. Hamlin has been near the front the last few weekends and there is a good chance he can pick up win #2 of the season on Sunday.
Jimmie Johnson (John Wiedemann)
Just a week after looking horrible at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Jimmie Johnson looks bulletproof at Dover. Both of those tracks have been good for Johnson in the past, as has Pocono Raceway. Johnson swept the races in 2004 and also won in 2013. In the last 10 races at the triangle track, Johnson has seven top ten finishes. Throw in Hendrick Motorsports recent domination of the track winning the last five races and it is easy to see that Johnson will be a contender this weekend.
Kurt Busch (DM)
Kurt Busch also has a very good record at Pocono as he has two victories to go along with eleven top five finishes and fifteen top tens. Busch and the #41 team have consistently proven they have one of the best cars when it comes to horsepower so far this season and it should show here at Pocono. Busch is listed at 7-1 odds and the chassis he will be driving was last raced at Texas where he won the pole and led 45 laps. Kurt Busch should be fast this weekend if it lasts and he should be considered one of the favorites to end the day in victory lane.
Joey Logano (JW)
The last non Hendrick Motorsports driver to win at Pocono was Joey Logano in this race back in 2012 back when he drove for Joe Gibbs. Since that race Logano has scored three top ten finishes with a third place run in the summer race last year. Look for a possible pole from the quick youngster as well, he currently has two at Pocono and four this year so far. Logano hasn’t won since his Daytona 500 victory this year but has mostly been in the mix at the end of the races with an average finish of 11.1. He currently is third in the point standings and should be set well for a spot in the Chase, but another victory would solidify that position. Look for Logano to be quick this weekend with a pole run and top five finish.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (DM)
Junior Nation loved Pocono last year as Dale Earnhardt Jr. swept both races here to end a long winless streak. Junior already has his win this season and he returns to Pocono as the defending race winner with 8-1 odds to repeat the feat on Sunday. Last season’s Pocono wins were his first at the “Tricky Triangle” and while he has ran well this season, the team does seem to be just a tick behind others speed wise. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive the chassis that was last raced at California where he finished 6th and he will be looking to work with 2015 crew chief Greg Ives to regain some of the Pocono success he found a year ago with Steve LeTarte.
Kevin Harvick (JW)
Kevin Harvick has finished in second place in seven of the thirteen points races so far this season. So, I am going to go out on a limb and predict he will finish second this weekend. Put all your money on “place”. In 28 Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono, Harvick has finished second one time. That was last year’s summer race where he was runner-up to Dale Earnhardt Jr., and was Harvick’s best finish at the triangle. With the lead in the point standings and two victories, Harvick is in the driver’s seat to make the Chase. Each and every race from here on out, the number 4 team can take gambles and go-for-it. This makes it hard to put your money on him or have him in your fantasy league, but the results have proven out and nine top two finishes in thirteen races don’t lie.
Ryan Newman (DM)
Ryan Newman is my long shot pick this week as he comes into Pocono with 60-1 odds to win. While he has never won at Pocono, Newman has had success at the other flat tracks on the circuit and his Richard Childress Chevy should have plenty of power. Newman’s Pocono record is pretty good as well as he has eleven top ten finishes including 7 out of the last 8 races here. This weekend could be Ryan Newman’s chance to nail down a victory and put himself into the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Don’t count him out this weekend.
Martin Truex Jr. (JW)
Martin Turex Jr is far from a long shot but if you are talking about him winning the race, long shot may come into play. Truex has been by far the top car at a number of races, but cautions and fuel mileage strategies have ruined a trip for him to victory lane. Truex is going to win at some point this season, he has to. You can’t run that good and not find victory lane. Will it be this weekend? One thing to consider is that with as bad as last season was for Truex, he had a top ten at Pocono. I expect Truex to be in the mix at Pocono but I think he will still need to wait for the ticket to victory lane.