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By Kenny Bruce
LONG POND, Pa. -- For the second time this season, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams battle it out at Pocono Raceway -- on a Monday -- at a track which features three distinct corners instead of four. Hence the 'Tricky Triangle' nickname.
In June, it was Kurt Busch scoring the victory. Dale Earnhardt Jr., runner-up to Busch, won't be in the No. 88 for the third consecutive race as he continues to recover from concussion-like symptoms. Once again, Jeff Gordon will handle the driving duties for the No. 88 team.
LONG POND, Pa. -- For the second time this season, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams battle it out at Pocono Raceway -- on a Monday -- at a track which features three distinct corners instead of four. Hence the 'Tricky Triangle' nickname.
In June, it was Kurt Busch scoring the victory. Dale Earnhardt Jr., runner-up to Busch, won't be in the No. 88 for the third consecutive race as he continues to recover from concussion-like symptoms. Once again, Jeff Gordon will handle the driving duties for the No. 88 team.
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At A Glance
Where: Pocono Raceway, a 2.5-mile layout in Long Pond, Pa.
Green flag: 11:00 a.m. ET, Monday, Aug. 1
TV/Radio: NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Forecast: Showers likely, possible thunderstorm. Cloudy, high near 74 degrees. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. (NOAA.gov)
National anthem: Lauren Hart, professional recording artist
Grand marshal: Guy Fieri, chef, television personality
Race Distance: 160 laps, 400 miles
Pit road speed: 55 mph
Caution car speed: 70 mph
Where: Pocono Raceway, a 2.5-mile layout in Long Pond, Pa.
Green flag: 11:00 a.m. ET, Monday, Aug. 1
TV/Radio: NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Forecast: Showers likely, possible thunderstorm. Cloudy, high near 74 degrees. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. (NOAA.gov)
National anthem: Lauren Hart, professional recording artist
Grand marshal: Guy Fieri, chef, television personality
Race Distance: 160 laps, 400 miles
Pit road speed: 55 mph
Caution car speed: 70 mph
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The Move That Pays
The No. 27 team made a crew chief change this week for RCR's Paul Menard -- replacing Justin Alexander with veteran Danny Stockman.
Menard responded by leading Friday's opening practice and qualifying a season's-best third.
'We had to make a change,' Menard said afterward. 'Danny came in here and gave us a good car right off the truck.'
The No. 27 team made a crew chief change this week for RCR's Paul Menard -- replacing Justin Alexander with veteran Danny Stockman.
Menard responded by leading Friday's opening practice and qualifying a season's-best third.
'We had to make a change,' Menard said afterward. 'Danny came in here and gave us a good car right off the truck.'
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Shades of Charlotte?
Coca-Cola 600 race winner Martin Truex Jr. starts on the pole and the Furniture Row Racing driver has been fast all weekend.
Truex said it's likely the same car he used during his dominating performance at Charlotte where he led 392 of 400 laps. A team spokesperson confirmed that it is in fact the same car.
'We'll find out come Sunday I suppose, if we can lead almost every lap,' Truex said after winning his third pole of the season.
Coca-Cola 600 race winner Martin Truex Jr. starts on the pole and the Furniture Row Racing driver has been fast all weekend.
Truex said it's likely the same car he used during his dominating performance at Charlotte where he led 392 of 400 laps. A team spokesperson confirmed that it is in fact the same car.
'We'll find out come Sunday I suppose, if we can lead almost every lap,' Truex said after winning his third pole of the season.
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Has Won Everywhere But …
Two drivers who have won NASCAR Sprint Cup races on just about every track on the schedule will be looking to check Pocono off their lists this weekend.
Kyle Busch needs victories at Pocono and Charlotte to fill out his win card while Kevin Harvick is winless at Pocono, as well as Sonoma, Texas and Kentucky.
Neither were impressive in qualifying -- Busch will start 16th and Harvick 17th -- but posted top-10 times in final practice.
Two drivers who have won NASCAR Sprint Cup races on just about every track on the schedule will be looking to check Pocono off their lists this weekend.
Kyle Busch needs victories at Pocono and Charlotte to fill out his win card while Kevin Harvick is winless at Pocono, as well as Sonoma, Texas and Kentucky.
Neither were impressive in qualifying -- Busch will start 16th and Harvick 17th -- but posted top-10 times in final practice.
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Doing the Double
It's been a busy week for Brad Keselowski -- the Team Penske driver tested at Watkins Glen International, crashed at WGI, qualified seventh at Pocono and flew to Iowa Speedway to compete in Saturday night's XFINITY Series race.
'We seem to have a little bit more speed right now, but we need a little more handling,' Keselowski said before departing for Iowa.
It's been a busy week for Brad Keselowski -- the Team Penske driver tested at Watkins Glen International, crashed at WGI, qualified seventh at Pocono and flew to Iowa Speedway to compete in Saturday night's XFINITY Series race.
'We seem to have a little bit more speed right now, but we need a little more handling,' Keselowski said before departing for Iowa.
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On a Record Pace
SHR driver Kurt Busch is the only driver to complete every lap through the first 20 races of the season. That's 5,673 circuits.
The season record for completing all the laps run is 21 races, established by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2012. Busch tied the mark last week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Busch has scored six top-five and 15 top-10 finishes this season, including his victory at Pocono in June.
SHR driver Kurt Busch is the only driver to complete every lap through the first 20 races of the season. That's 5,673 circuits.
The season record for completing all the laps run is 21 races, established by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2012. Busch tied the mark last week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Busch has scored six top-five and 15 top-10 finishes this season, including his victory at Pocono in June.
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They Said It
'This car will definitely drive to the front. I'm confident of that. It drives really good.' -- Greg Biffle
'We consciously made an effort that there wasn't going to be 'Gordon' on the car anywhere. … To me, it's just about I am a fill-in driver for Junior.' -- Jeff Gordon
'There's been a lot of things I guess over the years that have kept us from winning here. Restarts I would say is probably one of those.' -- Kyle Busch
'This car will definitely drive to the front. I'm confident of that. It drives really good.' -- Greg Biffle
'We consciously made an effort that there wasn't going to be 'Gordon' on the car anywhere. … To me, it's just about I am a fill-in driver for Junior.' -- Jeff Gordon
'There's been a lot of things I guess over the years that have kept us from winning here. Restarts I would say is probably one of those.' -- Kyle Busch