Catch up before Sunday’s Windows 10 400 (1:30 p.m ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM)
What: 42nd annual Windows 10 400
Where: Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania
When: Sunday, August 2, 2015
TV/Radio: NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR
Distance: 160 laps (400 miles)
Green Flag: 1:46 p.m. ET
Pit Road Speed: 55 mph
Caution Car Speed: 70 mph
Fuel Window: 32 laps
Competition caution: Lap 15 (Track was washed Saturday night)
On The Front Row (Full lineup)
1. Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota (178.416 mph)
2. Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Chevrolet (178.168 mph)
To the rear
Jeb Burton, BK Racing No. 26 Toyota (going to backup car)
Failed to Qualify
None
Fastest in Practice (Full practice results)
First Practice: Brad Keselowski, Team Penske No. 2 Ford (176.606 mph)
Second Practice: Carl Edwards, Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 Toyota (175.812 mph)
Third Practice: Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota (175.240 mph)
Bumps be gone
Two months ago, drivers complained about bumps in Turn 2 over Pocono’s new waterfall entrance. The track paved over the section, and the racers have recognized the work done. “They did a great job repairing or improving the bumps and issues they had over in the Tunnel (Turn) especially on the apron,” said an appreciative Dale Earnhardt Jr. But June winner Martin Truex Jr. may have lost an advantage, saying, “A few differences in the race track with the Tunnel Turn being smooth again, I think that certainly makes it a little bit easier on everybody else.”
Second consecutive sweep?
Earnhardt won both races in 2014, and Truex will attempt to become the eighth driver to complete the season sweep at the Tricky Triangle. In addition to the two Juniors, the six other drivers who have achieved the Pocono sweep are Bobby Allison (1982), Bill Elliott (1985), Tim Richmond (1986), Bobby Labonte (1999), Jimmie Johnson (2004) and Denny Hamlin (2006).
Four-Time’s last time
The all-time wins leader at Pocono, Jeff Gordon, will attempt to make his seventh trip to Richard Petty Victory Lane in his last start at the track. Gordon’s last win at the Tricky Triangle came three years ago in this race when he snapped a tie with NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott for lead. The facility incorporated “GORDON” into the start/finish line, and it has a “Thank you Jeff 24” sign greeting patrons and race teams as they drive out of the track under the Tunnel Turn.
Birthday bonanza
A win would be an early birthday present for Gordon, who turns 44 next Tuesday, as well as his crew chief, Alan Gustafson, who turns 40 next Wednesday when fellow Hendrick crew chief, Chad Knaus, turns 44 as well. Last year’s Sunoco Rookie of the Year winner, Kyle Larson, celebrated his 23rd birthday on Friday, and 38th-place qualifier Jeb Burton will join him at that age next Thursday. A two-time Pocono winner, Kurt Busch, turns 37 next Tuesday.
Four in a row
Coors Light Pole Award winner Kyle Busch will attempt to become the first driver to win four consecutive Sprint Cup Series races since Jimmie Johnson won four Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup races in a row in the fall of 2007. Other drivers with wins across a month of consecutive Sundays include NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott, David Pearson, Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough. Others to turn the trick have been Harry Gant, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin and Billy Wade. If Busch wins, he’ll go for five in a row at Watkins Glen and try to become the first driver to accomplish the feat since another NASCAR Hall of Famer, Bobby Allison, did it in 1971. Richard Petty holds the record with 10.
Taking the fifth
Kyle Busch and Harvick haven’t won on five of 23 Sprint Cup Series tracks, and Pocono is one they have in common. In addition to the Tricky Triangle, Harvick is winless at Dover, Kentucky, Sonoma and Texas while Busch hasn’t gone to Victory Lane at Charlotte, Homestead-Miami, Kansas and Martinsville.
Chevy seeks milestone
The Bowtie Brigade has won six consecutive races at the track, and if it wins on Sunday, it will make the 750th victory for the manufacturer. Seventy-six different drivers have won in a Chevy, which has claimed 38 manufacturer titles including the last 12. Gordon boasts the most wins with 92, followed by Johnson with 74, Earnhardt (73), Waltrip (60) and Yarborough (48).
Next new winner?
Through 20 races, 10 drivers have won their way into the Chase with Kyle Busch on the cusp of making the top 30 and becoming the 11th driver to make the playoffs, leaving five spots with six events until the field is set. Of top 30 drivers without a win in 2015, Larson has the best average finish of eighth. The second-best driver in that group is two-time Pocono winner, Stewart, with a 12.1 average finish. Another former winner, Ryan Newman, is third with a 12.4 average finish.
Double-duty dudes
JJ Yeley skipped Saturday’s practices to head to Iowa and run the XFINITY race. Four drivers competed in Saturday’s Camping World Truck Series race at Pocono: Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, Harvick and Brad Keselowski.
Driver Rating
Best driver rating average at Pocono based on races since 2005:
1. Denny Hamlin, 108.3
2. Jimmie Johnson, 106.9
3. Kurt Busch, 105.9
Defending race winner
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet
Former Pocono winners in the field
Jeff Gordon (6); Denny Hamlin (4); Jimmie Johnson (3); Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne, Carl Edwards (2); Ryan Newman, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Greg Biffle, Martin Truex Jr. (1).