Viewer's Guide: Pocono

Six weeks ago, when the Nextel Cup Series made its first visit to Pocono Raceway this season, Denny Hamlin was still searching for his first points-paying victory. Now, after dominating the Pocono 500 last month, he's confidently searching for his second in Sunday's Pennsylvania 500 (1:30 p.m. ET, TNT).

Inside the Numbers Hamlin in the 2006 Cup Series Race St. Fin. Laps Status Daytona 17 30 203 running Fontana 5 12 251 running Las Vegas 16 10 270 running Atlanta 7 31 323 running Bristol 33 14 500 running Martinsville 41 37 303 accident Texas 8 4 334 running Phoenix 6 34 289 running Talladega 30 22 187 running Richmond 7 2 400 running Darlington 5 10 367 running Lowe's 8 9 400 running Dover 7 11 400 running Pocono 1 1 200 running Michigan 21 12 129 running Infineon 40 12 110 running Daytona 6 17 160 running Chicagoland 7 14 270 running NHIS 12 6 308 running

What's more, he'll be the featured guest on the pre-race program.

"From the start I knew we had a very, very strong car," Hamlin said of his victorious run at the Pennsylvania triangle. "We were really good in practice and from the very start of the race I felt like we had a shot at winning."

Hamlin won despite a cut tire that forced his No. 11 Chevrolet into the grass shortly before a scheduled green-flag stop.

"When we cut that tire I was pretty sure we had lost our chance but the guys on the crew were incredible and as they made more and more repairs the car just kept getting better and better out there," Hamlin said.

Hamlin was actually in contention for his second win last week at New Hampshire when he ran out of fuel with one lap to go in a green-white-checkered finish.

"It was unfortunate because I think we had enough fuel to make it before the race was extended even longer at the end," Hamlin said. "The wreck under that last caution killed us because it was looking like I would have had a shot at Kyle, but I sputtered right there at the green-white-checkered."

As it was, Hamlin finished sixth.

"I couldn't really do anything to save any fuel," he said. "I tried to clutch as I entered the corner and coast through, then gas it back up on the straightaway but I wasn't going to make it. I hated to see those guys get past us at the end but we made it to the line and it's still a sixth-place run so I'm pretty happy about that."

Bobby Labonte, Kyle Petty and Stephen Leicht are among the guests scheduled for Trackside this week (7 p.m. ET Fri., SPEED). If you're going to Pocono, the SPEED stage will be inside the racetrack at Pocono.

The final rating for Sunday's race at New Hampshire was a 3.9, down 13 percent from a 4.5 one year ago. Saturday's Busch Series race, also from New Hampshire, pulled a 1.4, up from 1.2 last season.

	MESSAGE BOARD •   Send your question to Benny and Wally

In this week's edition of "Ask Wally and Benny," Greg Batary of Parts Unknown. writes:

I have always wondered how the pit crews can make such small incremental tire pressure adjustments, such as taking out a half-pound of pressure. I have always wondered this because it seems like whenever I use my normal tire pressure gauge, I could easily lose a pound or more of pressure, just trying to check the tire pressure. Do they use an expensive tire pressure gauge or some sort of combination gauge/air pump tool?

Benny Parsons takes this week's inquiry solo.

"Yes, the gauge that they use is very expensive," he said. "When most people think about a tire pressure gauge, they think about the silver thing that looks like a pencil that everyone carries around in their shirt pocket. The air gauges that they use in Nextel Cup Series racing costs about $600 or $700 and they measure the air pressure in tenths of a pound.

"Each morning, the tire specialist for each team will take their air pressure gauge to the Goodyear building and they calibrate their gauge to the official Goodyear gauge just to make sure that everything is working correctly."

On to this weekend's busy schedule:

Nextel Cup Series: Pennsylvania 500

Track: Pocono Raceway
• 2.5-mile triangle
• 14-degree banking in Turn 1
• 8-degree banking in Turn 2
• 6 degree-banking in Turn 3
• Frontstretch: 3,740 feet
• Long Pond stretch: 3,055 feet
• Backstretch: 1,780 feet

Race length: 200 laps/500 miles

TV schedule: (All times ET)
• NASCAR Live: 2:30, 6 p.m. Fri., SPEED
• Bud Pole Qualifying: 3:30 p.m. Fri. SPEED
• Trackside: 7 p.m. Fri., SPEED
• NASCAR Live: Noon Sat., SPEED
• Practice: 10 a.m. Sat.., SPEED
• Final Practice: 11 a.m. Sat.., SPEED
• NASCAR Raceday: 11:30 a.m. Sun., SPEED
• Pre-race: 1:30 p.m. Sun., TNT
• Race: 2:10 p.m. Sun., TNT

2005 FlashbackReview Kurt Busch's dominating run at Pocono Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

One year ago, Kurt Busch dominated at the beginning, surged back to the lead late and raced to his second win of the season.

The most recent checkered flag went to Kyle Busch, who held off Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards to win Sunday at New Hampshire.

Keep an eye on Mark Martin. Martin leads all drivers with 19 top-five finishes and 27 top-10 finishes at Pocono.

Busch Series: Goody's 250

Track: Martinsville Speedway
• .526-mile oval
• 12-degree banking in turns
• 2-degree banking in straights
• Length of Frontstretch: 800 feet
• Length of Backstretch: 800 feet

Race length: 250 laps/131.5 miles

TV schedule: (All times ET)

• Race: 3:30 p.m. Sat., NBC

2005 FlashbackSee Edwards get the win last weekend at NHIS Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

One year ago, this race didn't exist. Saturday's event is the first Busch Series race at Martinsville since 1994.

The most recent checkered flag went to Carl Edwards, who held points leader Kevin Harvick at bay in the closing laps Saturday to win the New England 200 at New Hampshire.

Keep an eye on Darrell Waltrip. D.W. will return to Busch Series action for the first time since 1995 on Saturday when he takes the green flag at Martinsville.