LONG POND, PA — The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is headed to Pocono Raceway for the Pennsylvania 400 on Sunday.
In terms of fantasy, Pocono is tough when it comes to picking drivers because many drivers have had past success there but not too much recent success.
Below are some notes to consider when picking your drivers. The notes are based on past Pocono performances.
SIX-TIME, THREE-TIME
Take Jimmie Johnson. He has three-career Cup wins at the 'Tricky Triangle', but the most recent of those three wins was in 2013.
SUBBING IN
Jeff Gordon, who is filling for Dale Earnhardt Jr. this weekend, has won at Pocono six times. Earnhardt swept the two Pocono races in 2014 by winning both of them. But Gordon's last Pocono win was in 2012.
2015 AT POCONO
Martin Truex Jr. won the June 2015 race at the track., but Matt Kenseth won the August Pocono race.
THIS YEAR AT POCONO
Kurt Busch is the reigning winner at Pocono, having won in June 2016. Earnhardt, Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott and Joey Logano rounded out the Top-5.
POCONO RACE NOTES/FACTS
· June 2016 Race Winner: Kurt Busch, 125.490mph, started 9th
· August 2015 Race Winner: Matt Kenseth, 132.159mph, started 7th
· Oldest Winner: Harry Gant, 50 years, 5 months, 7 days, 6/17/1990
· Youngest Winner: Joey Logano, 22 years, 0 months, 7 days, 6/10/2012
· 1st Race 400 mile Record: Jeff Gordon, 6/12/2011, 145.384mph
· 1st Race 500 mile Record: Alan Kulwicki, June 1992, 144.023mph
· 2nd Race Record: Rusty Wallace, July 1996, 144.892
· Slowest Race Record: Jimmie Johnson, June 2004, 112.129mph
· Worst Starting Spot to Win: Carl Edwards, June 2005, started 29th
· Different Race Winners: 34
· June 2016 Pole Winner: Brad Keselowski, 181.726mph, finished 3rd
· August 2015 Pole Winner: Kyle Busch, 178.416mph, finished 21st
· Track Qualifying Record: Kyle Larson, August 1, 2014, 183.438mph
· Oldest Pole Winner: David Pearson, 49 years, 5 months, 19 days, 6/10/1984
· Youngest Pole Winner: Joey Logano, 21 years, 2 months, 13 days, 8/6/2011
· Different Pole Winners: 40
POCONO POLE NOTES/FACTS
· Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Pocono Raceway five times; most recently the spring of 2013.
· 41 drivers have posted Coors Light poles at Pocono, led by Bill Elliott and Ken Schrader with five each; Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin lead all active drivers with three each.
· Buddy Baker won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Pocono in 1974 with a speed of 144.122 mph.
· Five drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Pocono. Bill Elliott holds the record for most consecutive poles at Pocono with three; fall 1984 and both races in 1985.
· Two active drivers have posted consecutive Coors Light poles at Pocono: Denny Hamlin (2006 sweep) and Joey Logano (fall 2011 and spring 2012).
· Three drivers have posted their first-career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Pocono Raceway: Harry Gant (1979), Casey Mears (2004) and Kyle Larson (2014).
· Eight different manufacturers have won a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole at Pocono; led by Chevrolet with 33, followed by Ford (16), Dodge (8), Pontiac (6), Toyota (5), Buick (2), American Motors Company and Oldsmobile (each have one).
· 13 of the 77 (16.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from the Coors Light pole; the most recent was Joey Logano (June, 2012).
· 15 of the 77 (19.4%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from the first starting position; the most recent was Jimmie Johnson (June, 2013).
· The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (15) than any other starting position at Pocono Raceway.
· 24 of the 77 (31.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from the front row: 15 from the first starting position and nine from second-place.
· 55 of the 77 (71.4%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Pocono have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· Five of the 77 (6.4%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Pocono is 29th, by Carl Edwards in the spring of 2005.
POCONO TRACK NOTES/HISTORY
· Opened in 1968 as a three-quarter-mile track, Pocono Raceway held the first race on the 2.5-mile track in 1971.
· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was in 1974 - won by Richard Petty, Dodge, 115.593 mph, 08/04/1974.
· The 2.5-mile track was repaved during the fall of 2011.
· 2012 marked the first season the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono were scheduled for 400 miles. Prior to 2012 all NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races were 500 miles at Pocono Raceway.
