For the second week in a row, NASCAR will take to a 2.5-mile track, however this time it’s the Tricky Triangle of Pocono. Also for the second week in a row, Jeff Gordon will be back in the 88-car of the absent Dale Earnhardt Jr. who is still dealing with concussion-like symptoms. Laps led, like most long tracks, are fairly spread out normally though both races in 2015 had a single driver lead 97 of the 160 laps. There are 12 drivers in the field this week with +6 positional differential marks so moving up through traffic is something that is very possible and can be counted on.
Avg. | Avg. | Laps | High | Low | Avg. | Diff. | Laps Led | Laps Led | ||||||||
Driver | Start | Finish | Races | Wins | Top 5's | Top 10's | Top 20's | Led | Poles | Finish | Finish | DNF | Rating | Pts. | Pts. | Pts./race |
Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 12 | 3.8 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 110.9 | 8.2 | 7.25 | 1.45 |
Kurt Busch | 4.4 | 11.8 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 80 | 1 | 1 | 37 | 0 | 113.8 | -7.4 | 20 | 4.00 |
Matt Kenseth | 14.6 | 15.4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 38 | 1 | 92.5 | -0.8 | 9 | 1.80 |
Martin Truex Jr. | 13.8 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 103 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 0 | 92.2 | -2.2 | 25.75 | 5.15 |
Joey Logano | 5 | 14.4 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 144 | 0 | 3 | 40 | 1 | 103.9 | -9.4 | 36 | 7.20 |
Brad Keselowski | 4.6 | 9.4 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 98 | 1 | 2 | 23 | 0 | 100.6 | -4.8 | 24.5 | 4.90 |
Kevin Harvick | 4.2 | 13.8 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 56 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 1 | 102.3 | -9.6 | 14 | 2.80 |
Greg Biffle | 21 | 12.8 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 26 | 0 | 77.6 | 8.2 | 3.25 | 0.65 |
Jeff Gordon | 6 | 7.75 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 68 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 108 | -1.75 | 17 | 4.25 |
Denny Hamlin | 8.6 | 11.8 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 22 | 0 | 96.2 | -3.2 | 1.5 | 0.30 |
Jimmie Johnson | 13 | 17.8 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 39 | 2 | 95.5 | -4.8 | 1.25 | 0.25 |
Kyle Larson | 15.6 | 9.4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 20 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 91.6 | 6.2 | 5 | 1.00 |
Clint Bowyer | 19.6 | 12.6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 22 | 0 | 82.3 | 7 | 0 | 0.00 |
Chase Elliott | 13 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 51 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 130.9 | 9 | 12.75 | 12.75 |
Jamie McMurray | 16.6 | 11.2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 86.8 | 5.4 | 0 | 0.00 |
Carl Edwards | 10.2 | 20.6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 41 | 1 | 87.3 | -10.4 | 4 | 0.80 |
Kasey Kahne | 15.6 | 22.8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 43 | 2 | 77.7 | -7.2 | 0.5 | 0.10 |
Ryan Newman | 17 | 17.8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 39 | 1 | 77.7 | -0.8 | 0 | 0.00 |
Tony Stewart | 13.4 | 22.6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 9 | 36 | 0 | 80.9 | -9.2 | 6 | 1.20 |
Kyle Busch | 7.2 | 23 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 1 | 9 | 42 | 1 | 82.4 | -15.8 | 5.5 | 1.10 |
A.J. Allmendinger | 24.2 | 23.2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 38 | 2 | 67.2 | 1 | 1 | 0.20 |
Ryan Blaney | 14 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 87.5 | 4 | 0 | 0.00 |
Austin Dillon | 10.2 | 20.2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 37 | 1 | 73.9 | -10 | 1.25 | 0.25 |
David Ragan | 30 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 23 | 0 | 59.5 | 10 | 0.25 | 0.05 |
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 25.4 | 26.2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 42 | 1 | 56.6 | -0.8 | 0 | 0.00 |
Aric Almirola | 22.4 | 27.6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 43 | 2 | 58.9 | -5.2 | 0.25 | 0.05 |
Casey Mears | 24.4 | 20.6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 28 | 0 | 65 | 3.8 | 0 | 0.00 |
Danica Patrick | 20.2 | 30.4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 37 | 0 | 56.5 | -10.2 | 1.25 | 0.25 |
Paul Menard | 21.2 | 26.8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 33 | 0 | 64.1 | -5.6 | 0 | 0.00 |
Trevor Bayne | 26.7 | 25.67 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 40 | 1 | 56.6 | 1.03 | 0 | 0.00 |
Michael Annett | 34.8 | 28 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 38 | 1 | 48.2 | 6.8 | 0 | 0.00 |
Landon Cassill | 31 | 29.8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 41 | 1 | 45.2 | 1.2 | 0 | 0.00 |
Chris Buescher | 18 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 51.7 | -7 | 0 | 0.00 |
Regan Smith | 35 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 47 | 13 | 0 | 0.00 |
Cole Whitt | 36.4 | 27.2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 30 | 1 | 43.5 | 9.2 | 0 | 0.00 |
Josh Wise | 36 | 28.75 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 35 | 0 | 38.5 | 7.25 | 0 | 0.00 |
Reed Sorenson | 38 | 30.75 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 34 | 0 | 36.2 | 7.25 | 0 | 0.00 |
Matt DiBenedetto | 34.7 | 33.67 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 40 | 1 | 35 | 1.03 | 0 | 0.00 |
Jeb Burton | 39 | 32.33 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 35 | 0 | 34.2 | 6.67 | 0 | 0.00 |
Brian Scott | 30 | 39 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 39 | 0 | 31.2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Key Drivers on 2.5 mile Tracks
Avg. | Avg. | Laps | High | Low | Diff | Laps Led | Laps Led | |||||||||
Driver | Start | Finish | Races | Wins | Top 5's | Top 10's | Top 20's | Led | Poles | Finish | Finish | DNF | Rating | Pts. | Pts. | Pts./race |
Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 13 | 7.14 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 0 | 102.2 | 5.86 | 7.25 | 1.04 |
Kyle Busch | 7.3 | 14.88 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 190 | 2 | 1 | 42 | 1 | 101.3 | -7.58 | 47.5 | 5.94 |
Matt Kenseth | 15.9 | 11.25 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 38 | 1 | 97.4 | 4.65 | 9 | 1.13 |
Kurt Busch | 6.8 | 13.88 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 80 | 1 | 1 | 37 | 0 | 101.6 | -7.08 | 20 | 2.50 |
Jeff Gordon | 9.4 | 12.43 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 108 | 0 | 1 | 42 | 0 | 97.9 | -3.03 | 27 | 3.86 |
Martin Truex Jr. | 14.4 | 14.63 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 103 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 0 | 93.2 | -0.23 | 25.75 | 3.22 |
Joey Logano | 6.3 | 10.75 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 188 | 0 | 2 | 40 | 1 | 105.8 | -4.45 | 47 | 5.88 |
Denny Hamlin | 11.4 | 8.88 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 24 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 0 | 98.9 | 2.52 | 6 | 0.75 |
Kevin Harvick | 4.4 | 10.75 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 143 | 1 | 2 | 42 | 1 | 108 | -6.35 | 35.75 | 4.47 |
Brad Keselowski | 7.8 | 10.75 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 130 | 1 | 2 | 23 | 0 | 98.1 | -2.95 | 32.5 | 4.06 |
Kyle Larson | 13.5 | 8.5 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 96.6 | 5 | 6.25 | 0.78 |
Jimmie Johnson | 12.6 | 15.13 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 39 | 2 | 94.7 | -2.53 | 1.25 | 0.16 |
Greg Biffle | 20.4 | 16.88 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 39 | 1 | 72.1 | 3.52 | 3.25 | 0.41 |
Clint Bowyer | 19 | 13.25 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 22 | 0 | 80.2 | 5.75 | 0.75 | 0.09 |
Chase Elliott | 18.7 | 12.33 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 51 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 90.2 | 6.37 | 12.75 | 4.25 |
Jamie McMurray | 15.8 | 13.88 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 20 | 0 | 82.1 | 1.92 | 0 | 0.00 |
Drivers to watch this week:
Kurt Busch: Kurt is the defending Champ at Pocono, having won the June race at the triangle. He has three top-fives, and has finished outside the top-20 just once in the last five races there. Busch has also led the fourth most laps with 80. At $8,900 he is a steal of a value this week for the Pennsylvania 400 in both the cash and GPP formats.
Jeff Gordon: Gordon is back for a second week at another track that he has dominated at in his career. He has six career wins at Pocono with one top-five and three top-10s in the last five races with the fifth most laps led with 68. He already proved that he can still hold his own at Indy last week with a 39-point performance and this week should be no different. His $8,800 price tag puts him squarely in a great second-tier of options this for either the cash or GPP lineup construction.
Chase Elliot: Elliot ran for the first time at Pocono in the June race and held his own very well. He moved from 13th to fourth by the end of the race and led 51 of the 160 laps. Elliot has also done well on the similar 2.5-mile tracks including last weekend’s Indianapolis race. With the previous race still freshly on the mind for him, the $8.700 price tag he has this week, is a great deal for the stud-rookie from Hendrick Motorsports.
Joey Logano: Logano has led the most laps at Pocono in the last five races, with 144, though 97 of them came in one race being last August. He has three top-five finishes but on average he does go backwards more often than not, which could hurt his value. Logano is still not in the top-tier of drivers prices this week at $9,500 but that only makes him more attractive for GPP formats given his laps led upside.
Greg Biffle: Biffle is the owner of one best positional differences in the field of Sunday’s Pennsylvania 400 at +8.2 over five races. He does only have two top-10s in that span but has finished better than 26th in all of them. In last August’s race he started 25th and finished fifth for his best finish at the Tricky Triangle. At $7,200, Biffle has a price tag that is roster friendly for an upside play at a track that he’s been good at.