2011 Good Sam RV Insurance 500 at Pocono Raceway
2011 Good Sam RV Insurance 500 at Pocono Raceway Preview:
The NASCAR Sprint Cup stars visited Pocono Raceway just a few weeks ago when Jeff Gordon dominated the competition late in the race and rolled to the easy win. The focus is different now as only six races remain until the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup begins. Gordon is secure in his Chase Spot but many in the wild card fight have a lot to battle for.
Tickets:
Speedway ticket office 1-800-RACEWAY
The Track:
Pocono Speedway is a 2.5 mile three-cornered speedway. The triangle-shaped track has three different corner lengths and bankings making it very difficult to set up a car and to drive well. Pocono is, in a word, unique.
Even though Pocono is difficult to set up for and drive. Pocono Raceway frequently hosts great racing with events often decided within the last couple of laps.
Race Distance:
200 Laps = 500 Miles
The Big Picture:
Last week in Indianapolis Carl Edwards maintained the point lead but gave up some ground to his pursuers. The top six drivers are all within eighteen points of the lead coming into Pocono.
Tony Stewart replaced Denny Hamlin in the top ten while Paul Menard's win puts him in the final wild card spot... for now. Menard is fourteenth in points, one of three drivers in 11th - 20th with one win each.
The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Standings:
- Carl Edwards
- Jimmie Johnson -11
- Kevin Harvick -12
- Kyle Busch -16
- Matt Kenseth -16
- Kurt Busch -18
- Jeff Gordon -52
- Ryan Newman -64
- Tony Stewart -73
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. -76
Storylines:
After Sunday only five races will remain until the 2011 Chase for the Cup will begin.
The focus of the next few weeks is the wild card battle. Here are the drivers outside the top ten with race wins.
- Denny Hamlin in 11th could easily fight his way back into the top ten.
- Paul Menard in 14th is fresh from his first career win currently has a wild car spot
- David Ragan in 16th sits just 7 points behind Menard. This is the key battle right now.
- Brad Keselowski in 21st has to get into the top 20 to be eligible.
- Regan Smith in 26th is probably a long shot at this point.
Media Coverage:
TV: ESPN Sunday, August 7th, 12:00PM Eastern.
Radio: MRN and SIRIUS Satellite
Actual Race: 1:00PM Eastern
Recent Events:
2010 Polesitter: Tony Stewart
2010 Winner: Greg Biffle
Last Year:
This race was affected by weather for the second year in a row. The 2009 event ran on Monday and last year's race was delayed by rain and halted late in the day before they got the full 500 miles in.
Greg Biffle had the best car at the end and ran away from the pack to claim Ford's first Sprint Cup victory of 2010. This race also saw the biggest hit of 2010 when Jimmie Johnson got into the back of Kurt Busch on the backstretch. Elliott Sadler get caught up in the aftermath and absolutely plowed the inside wall.
Elliott got out of the car under his own power and was later released from the care center.
Predictions:
Pocono Raceway has seen season sweeps by a single driver six times. Most recently Jimmie Johnson in 2004 and Denny Hamlin in 2006. Jeff Gordon tied Bill Elliott at the top of Pocono's all-time win list when he dominated the finish here in June. Jeff Gordon makes a great pick to complete the sweep and add Pocono win number six to his resume this weekend.
My backup pick this week goes to the driver that lead the most laps here in June. Denny Hamlin has an impressive Pocono resume of his own. He posted a season sweep here in 2006 and continues to bring fast cars. Hamlin could tie Gordon in Pocono victories if he claims the win on Sunday.