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Triangle’s Trick: Searching for unique Pocono winners
By Zack Albert, NASCAR.com | Published: May 30, 2018 6
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Over the last 13 Monster Energy Series races at Pocono Raceway, 12 drivers have visited Victory Lane, with Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s season sweep in 2014 making him the only repeater within the 13-race span. The list of unique winners besides Earnhardt (in order): Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex Jr., Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Chris Buescher, Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch. With Sunday's Pocono 400 (2 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM) on tap, there's a solid chance that the trend of distinctive winners will continue at the 2.5-mile track known as the Tricky Triangle. Here are five more candidates and their case for becoming lucky winner No. 13 in the last 14 Pocono events.
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Kevin Harvick, 2018 points ranking: 3rd
Career Pocono average finish: 13.0 (34 starts)
Career Pocono wins: 0
Why he'll extend the streak: Pocono stands as the rare active track that hasn't seen a Harvick visit to Victory Lane. Kentucky Speedway, a relative newcomer to the schedule, is the only other void on Harvick's resume. He has come close recently, collecting four runner-up finishes in the last seven Pocono races. The way the No. 4 driver's season has gone thus far with five wins in 13 starts, he'll likely be in the hunt again.
Career Pocono average finish: 13.0 (34 starts)
Career Pocono wins: 0
Why he'll extend the streak: Pocono stands as the rare active track that hasn't seen a Harvick visit to Victory Lane. Kentucky Speedway, a relative newcomer to the schedule, is the only other void on Harvick's resume. He has come close recently, collecting four runner-up finishes in the last seven Pocono races. The way the No. 4 driver's season has gone thus far with five wins in 13 starts, he'll likely be in the hunt again.
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Driver: Chase Elliott, 2018 points ranking: 15th
Career Pocono average finish: 13.8 (4 starts)
Career Pocono wins: 0
Why he'll extend the streak: Pocono has provided a hodgepodge of results for Elliott since his near-breakthrough in this race two years ago. One constant has been running among the top five, something the 22-year-old has done in each of his four starts.
Career Pocono average finish: 13.8 (4 starts)
Career Pocono wins: 0
Why he'll extend the streak: Pocono has provided a hodgepodge of results for Elliott since his near-breakthrough in this race two years ago. One constant has been running among the top five, something the 22-year-old has done in each of his four starts.
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Driver: Denny Hamlin, 2018 points ranking: 7th
Career Pocono average finish: 11.8 (24 starts)
Career Pocono wins: 4
Why he'll extend the streak: Hamlin's four career victories top the list of active drivers in the Monster Energy Series, suggesting a wealth of experience to rely on. He'll also likely start near the front on Sunday; his average starting position of 7.2 also stands as a series-best for current drivers.
Career Pocono average finish: 11.8 (24 starts)
Career Pocono wins: 4
Why he'll extend the streak: Hamlin's four career victories top the list of active drivers in the Monster Energy Series, suggesting a wealth of experience to rely on. He'll also likely start near the front on Sunday; his average starting position of 7.2 also stands as a series-best for current drivers.
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Driver: Kyle Larson, 2018 points ranking: 9th
Career Pocono average finish: 11.6 (8 starts)
Career Pocono wins: 0
Why he'll extend the streak: Larson and the No. 42 crew have shown speed at the Pennsylvania track, running as high as first or second in all eight of his starts there. His patchwork of high and low results have equaled a surprisingly winless trip through the first half of the regular season, but Larson remains a threat to win most weekends, including this one.
Career Pocono average finish: 11.6 (8 starts)
Career Pocono wins: 0
Why he'll extend the streak: Larson and the No. 42 crew have shown speed at the Pennsylvania track, running as high as first or second in all eight of his starts there. His patchwork of high and low results have equaled a surprisingly winless trip through the first half of the regular season, but Larson remains a threat to win most weekends, including this one.
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Driver: Erik Jones, 2018 points ranking: 13th
Career Pocono average finish: 5.5 (2 starts)
Career Pocono wins: 0
Why he'll extend the streak: It's a small sample size, but finishes of third and eighth in his rookie season last year bode well. Jones led multiple laps in both of those starts, and he's also won pole positions in both the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series at Pocono. It's a prime spot for a much-needed upward trend; Jones has one top five this season.
Career Pocono average finish: 5.5 (2 starts)
Career Pocono wins: 0
Why he'll extend the streak: It's a small sample size, but finishes of third and eighth in his rookie season last year bode well. Jones led multiple laps in both of those starts, and he's also won pole positions in both the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series at Pocono. It's a prime spot for a much-needed upward trend; Jones has one top five this season.