Catch up before the Axalta 'We Paint Winners' 400, 1 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)
What: 34th annual Axalta 'We Paint Winners' 400
Where: Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa.
When: Sunday, June 7, 2015
TV/Radio: FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR
Distance: 160 laps (400 miles)
Green Flag: 1:18.30 p.m. ET
Pit Road Speed: 55 mph
Caution Car Speed: 70 mph
Fuel Window: 32 laps
On The Front Row (Full lineup)
1. Kurt Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 Chevrolet (177.599 mph)
2. Carl Edwards, Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 Toyota (177.550 mph)
To the rear
Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Racing No. 14 Chevrolet (engine change)
Joey Logano, Team Penske No. 22 Ford (rear gear change)
Failed to Qualify
None
Fastest in Practice (Full practice results)
First Practice: Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Chevrolet (176.932 mph)
Second Practice: Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Chevrolet (175.658 mph)
Third Practice: Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Chevrolet (175.974 mph)
Triple Play
Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s season sweep at Pocono Raceway last year sets him up for a chance at a place in the track's history books. Should he secure the checkered flag in Sunday's 400-miler, he'd join NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison and the late Tim Richmond as the only drivers to win three straight at the Tricky Triangle
Hendrick's streak, too
Earnhardt's modest run of two wins in a row is part of a larger Pocono streak for his Hendrick Motorsports team. Jeff Gordon started the string with a victory here in August 2012, followed by wins in 2013 by teammates Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne -- all before Earnhardt's two-race tear.
Bumpy issue
The gradual development of bumps in Turn 2 -- also known as the "tunnel turn" over the infield entrance -- has added a new dimension for Sunday's race. Some drivers have turned critical, but front-row starter Carl Edwards is a fan. "To me, if they could just go ahead and take some bumps like that and put them over in the other corners, too, it would be even better," Edwards said. "It adds something. As long as it's not breaking parts, I believe it gives us an opportunity to set up passes. We'll see how it goes in the race, but it could be one of those things where you might have an opportunity to take advantage of a guy's trouble that he has through there."
Mixed fortunes for Harvick
Defending Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick swept to the top of the leaderboard in all three practices Friday and Saturday, and he landed the fifth starting position in Coors Light Pole Qualifying. His speed wasn't rewarded in the selection of pit stalls, as his Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Chevrolet team picked last in the 43-car field as a result of a P1 penalty assessed this week. Harvick will pit Sunday in unlucky stall No. 13.
History lesson
Pocono Raceway opened in 1968 as a .75-mile track, expanded to its current 2.5-mile layout in 1971. The triangular speedway began hosting NASCAR's top division in 1974, when Richard Petty edged Buddy Baker to become the first winner. Sunday's race will be the 75th event for NASCAR's premier series.
Driver Rating
Best driver rating average at Pocono based on past 20 races:
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 (1).