NASCAR announced this offseason that it will standardize at-track team rosters across all three national series in 2018, providing a structure for the number of personnel working on each vehicle during the course of a race weekend.
Official team rosters for Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono (2 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) have been released. Click the print icon above, or the link below.
ROSTERS: Pocono race
RELATED: Overview of 2018 rules updates
Kyle Busch soared to the top of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series leaderboard Friday, setting the early pace at Pocono Raceway.
Busch clocked a lap of 176.939 mph with the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota on the 2.5-mile Pennsylvania track. Busch, a four-time Pocono pole winner, added to the momentum from winning last weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.
RELATED: Practice 1 results | Full Pocono schedule
Alex Bowman hustled the Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet to the second-fastest lap at 175.490 mph, a lap that was .420 seconds off Busch’s fast time. Clint Bowyer, Kyle Larson and Kevin Harvick completed the top five.
Defending race winner Ryan Blaney managed the eighth-fastest lap in the Team Penske No. 12 Ford.
The start of opening practice was delayed by approximately 10 minutes because of moisture on the track. Race officials extended the practice five minutes past its scheduled end to provide teams with more track time.
RELATED: Best photos from Pocono
Officials also moved the start of Friday’s Busch Pole Qualifying back by five minutes to 4:20 p.m. ET (FS2).
Three teams were docked 15 minutes of practice for failing pre-race inspection twice. Those penalized were:
With three wins atop the pit box at Pocono Raceway, Steve Letarte knows quite a bit about finding success at the “Tricky Triangle.”
Letarte won at the 2.5-mile track in June 2007 as the crew chief for recently named Class of 2019 NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon. In 2014, his final year atop the pit box before becoming part of the NASCAR on NBC broadcast booth, he guided Dale Earnhardt Jr. to a sweep of both races at the Pennsylvania track.
RELATED: Full schedule for Pocono | Letarte’s stats as a crew chief
The track is the lone venue on the circuit with just three turns instead of the traditional four found at most oval tracks that make up the majority of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule. That uniqueness is a challenge for drivers and crew chiefs alike for Sunday’s Pocono 400 (2 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
“It takes a mindset,” Letarte told NASCAR.com. “If you don’t have track position, there’s not much you can do as far driving through the field. I think you just have to like going there — driver and crew chief.
“It just comes into a very honest compromise. What you have for a car. Which corner you are good in. Which corner are you are not good in. You have to have a very methodical approach because if you think you are going to be very good in all three (corners), you’re wrong.
“Then, it’s just a ton of hours studying all the options that can come your way. The track layout, specifically the length of the lap, just opens up so many opportunities for strategy — when to pit, how to pit. It’s just a challenging race track atop the pit box and in the driver’s seat.”
Pocono has seen 12 different winners in the past 13 races there with Earnhardt’s 2014 sweep standing as the only instance of a driver winning more than once in that stretch. Letarte is one of two crew chiefs to win multiple races at Pocono in that span – Jason Ratcliff is the other, although he did it with two drivers, Joey Logano (in 2012) and Matt Kenseth (in 2015).
Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick have combined for nine wins in the first 13 Monster Energy Series races of 2018 but have just one win combined at Pocono (Harvick has not won there). And while their early dominance has been a prominent storyline so far, the playoff picture is also coming more into focus with half the regular season complete. Letarte expects that to play into the strategic mindset, especially for teams currently on the wrong side of the 16-driver cutline.
RELATED: Standings entering Pocono | Who could be next to win at Pocono?
“You look at the second half of the playoff standings,” Letarte said. “You look at teams like Paul Menard (Wood Brothers Racing, No. 21 Ford). Someone who won at Indy on fuel mileage. Ryan Newman (Richard Childress Racing, No. 31 Chevrolet). He’s been so consistent for so many years. How much are they willing to throw away points to get that win?”
With the stages of the Pocono 400 set to be 50 laps, 50 laps and 60 laps, teams will have to pit at least once in each stage since a fuel run at Pocono is around 33-35 laps. Last year’s July race saw stage-winning machine Martin Truex Jr. bypass a stage win to pit from the lead with four laps to go in Stage 2 in order to better position himself to go after the race win by only needing one more pit stop the rest of the way. Kyle Busch went on to win the race, while Truex finished third.
RELATED: Stats to know about Pocono | See every spring race winner
“Aggressive is the new norm,” Letarte said. “Splitting a fuel run up in the middle used to be, ‘Man, you are way outside the box.’ Now, if you don’t split it, you are way outside the box.
“I expect most guys to pit as soon as they get in their window. The aggressive strategy is to perhaps run really long and try to have the freshest tires at the end and put your driver on offense. If the cautions fall right — Dale Jr. and I did it (in their August 2014 win). We pitted and took fuel and tires just so we could come back a few laps later to take fuel again. …
“A win fixes everything, so I do think there will be some creative strategies.”
Lots To Look Forward To At The Tricky Triangle
The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series has seen two big names take over in the first 13 races of the season. Kevin Harvick has swept through taking home five victories, followed by Kyle Busch collecting four of his own – the most recent at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which also marked his first one at the track at NASCAR’s highest level. That win made him the only driver in history to win a race at every single Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series active track on the circuit. All in all, these two are forces to be reckoned with.
MORE: Full Pocono weekend schedule | Check out this week’s paint schemes
But, Pocono Raceway is called the ‘Tricky Triangle’ for a reason. In the last seven races at Pocono, there have been seven different winners. Last June, Ryan Blaney won his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono, which gave him his spot in the Playoffs. Then, last August, Kyle Busch won at Pocono for the first time in his career.
Chase Elliott, Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez are hopeful that their first visit to Victory Lane in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will be some time in the near future. Is it possible that Pocono Raceway could capture another new winner?
Also, don’t forget about the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday because it is a must-watch. The reason — the aero package returns to the track and is highlighted by the enlarged splitter and spoiler, the aero ducts and restrictor plate which we saw for the first time last season at Indianapolis. That race posted records for lead changes and green flag passes for the lead. No one can predict what will happen in this weekend, so watching it will be the only way to find out.
Pocono Raceway To Honor The Military During The 400 Weekend
Pocono Raceway and their Department of Military Affairs will honor the United State Armed Forces with various events and recognition throughout the Pocono 400 race weekend. A new logo has also been released for the weekend’s events.
The United States Army Golden Knights will host a meet-and-greet and a skydiving demonstration during the National Anthem.
MORE: NASCAR Salutes returns refreshed by Coca-Cola
The Co-Grand Marshals will be members of the United States Marine Corps, United States Army Corp of Engineers, United States Air Force Material Command and the Pennsylvania National Guard. The National Anthem will be performed by the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps.
Two-hundred-plus new recruits enlisting in various branches of the military will receive their Oath of Enlistment prior to Sunday’s race. The ceremony is expected to be one of the largest ceremonies ever held at a sporting event. Pocono Raceway will dedicate a plaque to the Gold Star Families of the Fallen at the Flag Pole located near the main entrance of the fan fair.
The Commander of the Tobyhanna Army Depot will present an award to recognize the warrior who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in the local community. Military and Pocono Raceway representatives will gather the Chair of Honor prior to Sunday’s race and The Honor Guard will place the seat in the upright position in the grandstands to honor POW/MIA.
In addition, the United States Air Force Drill Team will do a demonstration and the Joint Service Honor Guard will present colors during the National Anthem. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers will take laps around the track in military Humvees after introductions and the Pennsylvania National Guard, 109th Artillery Division, will do a Cannon Salute during the National Anthem.
Fan-Driven Events You Won’t Want To Miss
Pocono Raceway is always jam-packed with fun things for fans to do other than racing.
Not only do fans have the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Racing Series to look forward to, the track also provides lots of opportunities to have fun. Fan-friendly and exciting events will be held at the track all weekend long. So, be sure to check them out.
The NASCAR Hauler Parade for camping guests is a great way to start off the weekend. There will be a 50/50 raffle to benefit the Lehigh Valley Children’s Hospital as well as Pocono Raceway’s Lehigh Valley Children’s Hospital Kids Club. The #POCONOMTNS Inclusive Playground, the first inclusive playground located inside a NASCAR track, will be open to all guests starting Thursday, May 31. Along with that, there will be Sensory Kits and Rooms, courtesy of KultureCity, giving fans who have sensory issues access to all the race weekend fun, too.
An Xfinity Driver Autograph Session will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday and later that day, the NASCAR Xfinity Series will have an open garage to give fans the opportunity to check out the behind-the-scenes action.
The second-annual Monster Energy NASCAR Free Friday will take place on June 1, where fans can bring an empty can of Monster Energy to get recycled at one of the gates and will receive free admission to all of Friday’s events.
A “Selfie Session” with Alex Bowman will take place behind Victory Lane but be sure to pre-register at www.poconoraceway.com/selfiesesh to get your spot. Pocono Raceway’s Infield Block Party and Fireworks will be one for the books on Saturday night. A $10 donation is asked for each vehicle and then you can enjoy the live music, a Red Robin food truck, drinks for the adults and plenty of games for kids.
Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch and Matt DiBenedetto will all make an appearance, and some will do a Q&A with fans.
And, don’t forget about the pre-race concert with Steve Moakler, a rising county music star from Pittsburgh, Penn., who will kick off the race.
Drug Take Back Program
Attorney General Josh Shapiro partnered with Pocono Raceway to help the fight against the opioid epidemic, an issue that hits home for the locals surrounding Pocono Raceway, during the weekend.
Fans who drop unused prescription drugs at Attorney General’s Drug Take Back booths will get a free lap in their own cars around the Tricky Triangle.
See For Yourself
Make your plans to see all the action live at Pocono Raceway by called 1-800-RACEWAY or visit NASCAR.com/buy-tickets.
But, if you can’t make it to the Tricky Triangle this weekend, watch the Monster Energy Series race live on FS1 this Sunday at 2 p.m. ET and the Xfinity Series race on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on FS1 as well as on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Editor’s note: Fantasy Fastlane will look at each race from a fantasy perspective, examining the top plays as well as several under-the-radar options and a play to avoid for NASCAR Fantasy Live. See the full analysis here.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series will mark its third race at Pocono Raceway with what is anticipated to be an exciting technical package on its cars. The series will use the same aero package that was so successful at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last year setting records for green flag passes for the lead (29) and lead changes (16).
RELATED: Full Pocono weekend schedule | 2018 Xfinity Series rules update
The cars will have a bigger splitter and spoiler, specially-designed aero ducts and restrictor plates on the 2.5-mile three-turn historic track and the expected outcome is even closer racing and more passing.
Neither of the race’s first two winners – Kyle Larson (2016) and Brad Keselowski (2017) will be competing in this week’s Pocono Green “250” Recycled by JP Mascaro & Sons (Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) ensuring a new winner with the car’s new package.
Veteran Elliott Sadler maintains the championship lead that he’s held most of the year but is looking for his first win at Pocono in the Xfinity Series. He does have good history at the track, however, as the inaugural Camping World Truck Series race winner at Pocono in 2010.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — It’s a big weekend for 24-year old Ryan Blaney, returning to Pocono Raceway ready to defend his first career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup victory in Sunday’s Pocono 400 race (2 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Blaney has moved from the Wood Brothers to Team Penske this season, driving the No. 12 Ford. It’s often been a season of all-in or all-out for the young and hugely-popular talent — who has three top-five and six top-10 finishes through the opening 13 races of the season. These are high marks he is expected to easily exceed, considering he had a career-best four top-fives and 14 top-10s all of last year and is already close to surpassing those numbers only a third of the way through 2018.
MOMENT IN TIME: Relive Blaney’s first win | Blaney watches Pocono win with us
He led a race-best 118 laps in the season-opening Daytona 500 and finished seventh (he won the first Duel as well), and Blaney’s overall work was enough to earn him the No. 1 position in the standings after the race – a career high ranking for him and an ideal way to kick off his tenure with the championship Penske team.
Blaney impressively stayed among the top-three in the championship standings through the early season– leading 145 laps and finishing a season-best of third at Martinsville.
A crash at the always-tough Bristol Motor Speedway in mid-April interrupted the fast start. And he’s had two more DNFs since – in the last two races (at Kansas and at Charlotte on Sunday night).
So he comes to Pocono – where he has three finishes of 11th or better in four Cup starts – ready to right the ship, defend his first career victory and add to the win total; goals everyone in the sport fully expects Blaney to meet.
Martin Truex Jr. enjoyed a warm welcome in his home state Thursday as New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy honored the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion.
Murphy presented a declaration naming May 31, 2018 as “Martin Truex Jr. Day” in the state. Truex grew up in Mayetta, New Jersey, just over an hour away from the governor’s office in Trenton.
MORE: Full schedule for Pocono | Truex moves up in Power Rankings
Truex presented Murphy with an autographed, race-worn fire suit as the two posed alongside the championship trophy. The day of recognition comes one week after Truex and his Furniture Row Racing No. 78 team were celebrated at the White House.
“Being from New Jersey and thinking about having my own day is pretty crazy so it was a big day for me,” Truex said in a release provided by the Furniture Row team. “It was a huge honor to be recognized by Gov. Murphy for Furniture Row Racing’s achievements as a team. I’m very proud to be from New Jersey and to be the first NASCAR Cup Series Champion from the state is pretty awesome, as well. All that made today very special.”
Truex amassed eight wins, including a title-clinching victory in last year’s season finale, as he marched to his first championship in NASCAR’s top division. He was named New Jersey Sportsperson of the Year.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 31, 2018) – NASCAR today announced that Gene Stefanyshyn will lead the sport’s international efforts as Senior Vice President and Chief International Officer, John Probst has been promoted to Vice President, Innovation and Racing Development, John Bobo has been promoted to Vice President, Racing Operations, and Scott Prime has been promoted to Vice President, Strategic Development.
Stefanyshyn will be responsible for developing the racing product and brand across NASCAR’s international series in Canada, Mexico and Europe, as well as prospective new markets abroad. Stefanyshyn joined NASCAR in 2013 and has led efforts to innovate across all competition platforms. Prior to NASCAR, Stefanyshyn worked internationally in the automotive industry and brings extensive international business experience to the role. Stefanyshyn will continue to report into Steve O’Donnell, Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer.
“Gene’s experience leading our strategic work and industry collaboration on innovating and improving our competition product, along with his prior international working experience, make him an ideal fit for the next phase of our international efforts,” said O’Donnell. “We are excited about the future direction of our international racing portfolio and are looking forward to Gene’s leadership across this growing platform.”
Probst will step into the key leadership role Stefanyshyn held the past five years and will be responsible for leading the sport’s efforts to continue to deliver strong racing at all levels of competition, as well as integrating innovation and technology across the sport’s at-track operations. Probst joined NASCAR in 2016 after over two decades of industry experience, including time with Ford Motor Company, Red Bull Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing. Probst will remain based out of the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord and will report directly into O’Donnell.
“John was instrumental in the development of our new inspection process, incorporating best in class technology and technology partners into one of our most important competition operations,” said O’Donnell. “Integrating new, relevant technology into our operations and innovating our racing product are strategic priorities for us and John is well suited to continue the important leadership of this area.”
Bobo will oversee racing operations across all national, touring and weekly series, as well as managing the American Medical Response (AMR) relationship and the sport’s drug testing program. Bobo joined NASCAR in 2010 after two-decades of previous high-level experience in private, government and non-profit sectors. Most notably, he served as a state prosecutor, chief drug & alcohol policy advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and later head of U.S. DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration. Bobo will remain based out of the NASCAR’s Daytona Beach, Florida headquarters and will report directly into O’Donnell.
“John brings leadership experience to our operations at the racetrack,” said O’Donnell. “His ability to develop smart, working solutions to difficult problems has set John apart – he’s a true professional that brings a steady hand in leading our racing operations.”
Prime will oversee key strategic initiatives and development of key new business platforms for the sport, as well as managing the industry council framework across the sport’s main stakeholders. Prime joined NASCAR in 2015 after a decade-long career driving strategy at McKinsey & Company, the National Basketball Association and Mercer Management Consulting. Prime will remain based out of NASCAR’s New York offices and will report directly into Steve Phelps, Chief Operating Officer.
“Scott has made significant contributions to the sport through his leadership on key initiatives such as the team owner charter framework and the industry’s esports strategy,” said Phelps. “His strategic approach to complex business issues will benefit our industry as we look to grow our sport smartly, working together to strengthen operations across all parties while unlocking opportunities to bring our sport closer to our fans everywhere.”
So many apologies in the delay since my previous blog. Things have been insane here at the house. Basically over the previous nine months, mom’s belly has gotten larger and people gave her presents because of it. I don’t get humans.
And dad — oh my gosh, dad. I literally have not seen him this excited since the time he went to Costco and saw that giant jug of mayonnaise for sale. He’s been on cloud nine. That’s cloud 63 for dogs, BTW.
So anyways, for several weeks, mom and dad sat around the house. He was nervous, she was getting annoyed. Not like Dale-just-ate-my-gelato-and-then-fled-to-South-Korea-annoyed like she was earlier in the year, but annoyed. (That incident is worth its own blog altogether. I about texted Dale and suggested he take up asylum in the American embassy until Whole Foods restocked that shizz.)
She would look at her belly and say, “We can’t wait to meet you! Come on!” I’ve never looked at my belly and spoken to it. That’s so weird. Granted I’ve barked at my own fart from time to time, but this was just light years beyond the pale.
RELATED: Dale, Amy Earnhardt welcome baby
So one night when I’m out having my evening cigar and vodka gimlet with the bison, we put our heads together and come up with some possibilities to explain their weird behavior.
1. Maybe dad is nervous because he has another one of those eBay auctions going and he’s currently the highest bidder on a discarded plate of tater tots once eaten by Reb Wickersham or whatever the hell else he hoards in his newfound copious free time.
2. Maybe talking to your own belly is like the most recent new-age hippie shizz that people do like what Danica Patrick was doing when she was charging crystals and all that weirdo Gwyneth-Paltrow-whatever.
3. Dad is just acting nervous because he is going to be in the TV booth for NASCAR on NBC in the very near future. Granted I’ve watched races with him at home and he’s really good at yelling at the TV so I’m sure he’ll be good at calling races. Maybe his sentences will be punctuated with the occasional “HOT DAMN!” and “BOY HOWDY!” like they are at home.
4. That gorgeous new room they put in the house with all the pink draperies and that really nice open-top dog cage is all mine for being a very good boy all these years. (NOTE: I’M TOLD IT IS CALLED A ‘CRIB’)
So we go about our business and then suddenly one day out of nowhere they’re all like “It’s time!” and they just leave. They run out the door like me after a jerky truck. And they’re just gone. No explanation. No, “Hey, while we’re gone Gus is in charge.” Nothing.
MORE: Dale Jr. documents fatherhood, shares week one stories
So OK, when your parents suddenly leave the house, what do you do? THROW A RAGER, THAT’S WHAT. I book a DJ and begin filling the swimming pool with Gravy Train. Calling my homeys. It’s like the start of Snoop Dogg’s “Gin & Juice” video. I try to get Migos to come by. Like, we’re getting turnt AF tonight.
Then I look out the window. Junebug, the bison and various deer start gathering beneath the treehouse like it’s Pride Rock and and one of the deer starts singing the opening lines to “Circle Of Life,” I’m like ‘OK, why am I always the last to know things around here?’ Do you have any idea how pissed off Migos gets when you gotta cancel on them? Hint: A lot. Thanks, dad. Whatever the hell you’re doing caused me to set Clint Bowyer’s flamethrower to the bridge between myself and MIGOS.
FREAKIN’ MIGOS. Whatever.
So suddenly I see them rolling down the driveway. They pull up and get out of the car. And they’re like, ecstatic and carrying something wrapped in a blanket that I’m really hoping is maybe a honeybaked ham because I’m hungry and I haven’t eaten since I had to cancel on Migos.
It’s not a ham. It’s a small human. The smallest human I have ever seen. And I’ve hung out with Justin Allgaier at the shop.
It’s a tiny girl named Isla, but they tell me the “s” is silent so whenever I bark her name I make sure not to pronounce it.
When they first got me the first thing they had me do was poop in Martin Truex Jr.’s motorcoach. They haven’t done that with her yet. Not to my knowledge, at least.
She seems to sleep most of the day. Now THIS I am all about. Her and I already have something in common. Except she has this weird swing device they put her in when she wants to sleep. I have tried climbing into it to try it out when she isn’t using it, and I knock the thing over. I’m like the size of Chewbacca now. I feel like Andre The Giant trying to climb into a soap dish.
Anyways, we’re getting along great right now. And I’m told that soon she’ll be sitting in something called a “high chair” when she’s eating food and likely dropping like 85 percent of it on the ground so basically every day gonna be like my birthday. Nah, really, she’s cool, even if she doesn’t really know any tricks yet aside from crying and getting a butt-ton of likes on Instagram.
Anyways, off to hopefully mend fences with Migos. Until next time.
— Gus
