Posted on by Staff Report

Get on-track times for everything at Pocono and Iowa

RELATED: This week’s TV schedule

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will race at Pocono Raceway this week. The NASCAR XFINITY Series will race at Iowa Speedway. Sprint Cup Series and XFINITY Series practices, qualifying sessions and races can also be watched on NBC Sports Live Extra.The Camping World Truck Series events will be on FOX Sports 1. Check out the full schedule below.

 

 
 

All times are ET

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2:

PRE-RACE SCHEDULE
— 11:30 a.m.: NSCS Driver/Crew Chief Meeting (ARCA garage)
— 1 p.m.: NSCS Driver Introductions (Drivers will take lap in a Chevy Silverado and get dropped off at their car, 43 trucks)
— 1:22 p.m.: Skydivers land on front stretch S/F line
— 1:30 p.m.: Presentation of Colors: West Point Garrison, MP Company Honor Guard
— 1:30:20 p.m.: Invocation by: Billy Mauldin, President and CEO of Motor Racing Outreach
— 1:31 p.m.: National Anthem by: Alyssa Golden (Pyro from Turn 3)
— 1:32:45 p.m.: Flyby TOT: 2 CV-22’s from the Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, FL (Turn 3 to 1)
— 1:37:45 p.m.: "Driver’s, Start Your Engines" 
— 1:46 p.m.: Green Flag – Start of the Windows 10 400 (160 laps, 400 miles)

ON TRACK
— 1:30 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Windows 10 400 (160 laps, 400 miles), NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live)
— 4:45 p.m. (approx.): Post-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race press conferences

FRIDAY, JULY 31:

ON TRACK
— 11 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)
— 2-4:25 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice, FOX Sports 1 (Results)
— 4:30-5:50 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series practice, Live Extra (Results)
— 4:45 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)
— 7-8:20 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)
— 9 p.m. ET: NASCAR K&N Pro Series race (150 laps/131.25 miles) (hometracks.nascar.com)

GARAGECAM (Watch live)
— 10:30 a.m.: Sprint Cup Series
— 1:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live)
— 10 a.m.: Kyle Busch
— 10:45 a.m.: Tyler Reddick
— 1:15 p.m.: Matt Crafton
— 1:30 p.m.: Martin Truex Jr.
— 1:45 p.m.: Jeff Gordon
— 2 p.m.: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
— 5:45 p.m. (approx.): Post-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying press conferences

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1:

ON TRACK
— 9-9:50 a.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)
— 10 a.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying, FOX Sports 1 (Results)
— 11:35 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)
— 1 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Pocono Mountains 150 (60 laps, 150 miles), FOX Sports 1 (Results)
— 4:45 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)
— 8 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series U.S. Cellular 250 Presented by New Holland (250 laps, 218.75 miles), NBCSN/Live Extra (Get results) 

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live)
— 2:15 p.m. (approx.): Post-NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race press conferences

Posted on by Staff Report

Get full lineup of NASCAR programming for the week

RELATED: See the full weekend schedule | NBC Sports Live Extra

All times ET

Monday, July 27
6 a.m., NASCAR Victory Lap (re-air), NBCSN
7 a.m., NASCAR Victory Lap (re-air), NBCSN
8 a.m., NASCAR Victory Lap (re-air), NBCSN
2:30 p.m., NASCAR 120, NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special 2015 (re-air), NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
6:30 p.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special 2015, NBCSN

Tuesday, July 28
2 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
6 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
8 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
4:30 p.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special (re-air), NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #5 (re-air), NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
6:30 p.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #6 (re-air), NBCSN
9 p.m., Knock Knock Live with Jeff Gordon, FOX
RELATED: Watch Gordon surprise a fan on ‘Knock Knock Live’

Wednesday, July 29
2 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
6 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
8 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1

Thursday, July 30
3 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
6 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
8 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
4:30 p.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #6 (re-air), NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special 2015 (re-air), NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
6:30 p.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special 2015 (re-air), NBCSN
7 p.m., NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour: Monadnock Speedway (tape), NBCSN
1 a.m., NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour: Monadnock Speedway (re-air), NBCSN

Friday, July 31
2 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
6 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
8 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
11 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, NBCSN
2 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice, FOX Sports 1
4:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
7 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, NBCSN
2 a.m., NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour: Monadnock Speedway (re-air), NBCSN

Saturday, August 1
8 a.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #5 (re-air), NBCSN
8:30 a.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #6 (re-air), NBCSN
9 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, NBCSN
10 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying, FOX Sports 1
11:30 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, NBCSN
12:30 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Setup, FOX Sports 1
1 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Pocono Mountain 150, FOX Sports 1
2:30 p.m., Being: Stewart-Haas Racing, FOX Sports 1
4:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN
7:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Countdown to Green, NBCSN
8 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series U.S. Cellular 250 Presented by New Holland, NBCSN

Sunday, August 2
6 a.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #5 (re-air), NBCSN
10:30 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying (re-air), NBCSN
11 a.m., NASCAR RaceDay: Pocono, FOX Sports 2
Noon, Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge: Lime Rock (re-air), FOX Sports 1
Noon, NASCAR America Sunday, NBCSN
1 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Countdown to Green, NBCSN
1:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Windows 10 400, NBCSN
5:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Post-Race Show, NBCSN
11 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lap, NBCSN
Midnight, NASCAR Victory Lane, FOX Sports 1
Midnight, NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #6 (re-air), NBCSN
3:30 a.m. (Monday), NASCAR Victory Lane (re-air), FOX Sports 1

 

Posted on by Zack Albert

Cautions foiled the No. 88 team’s strategy in the Brickyard 400

RELATED: Power Rankings after Indianapolis | How all 43 drivers fared at the Brickyard

Sunday’s annual NASCAR stop at Indianapolis Motor Speedway had a Murphy’s Law quality to it for Dale Earnhardt Jr. But the 40-year-old driver, while frustrated, said that in the grand scheme of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup points system, the run of Brickyard bad luck barely matters.

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

• Latest news
• Standings
• Schedule

Earnhardt described the set of circumstances that led to an unsavory 22nd-place finish at Indy in a sigh-filled Tuesday edition of the "Dale Jr. Download" podcast on Dirty Mo Radio. "Not a lot of fun out there," was the sentiment after a late pit-road mishap then a spin after contact with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne — all with less than 20 laps remaining.

"With several laps to go, we were sitting out there in 16th or so and we were going to come down pit road and get four tires," Earnhardt told Dirty Mo Radio. "I don’t know, we didn’t. The reason is because who the hell cares where we finish if we can’t win the race. I mean, we were going to come down pit road in 16th place. A lot of guys around us pitted and we were going to get four tires and come out probably … we might beat two guys, we might lose two spots, what the hell ever. So it was a wash in my opinion."

Earnhardt did enter pit road in 16th place, but left in 22nd after an air-gun failure slowed his stop for service, leaving his No. 88 Chevrolet team only able to change two tires instead of four. Earnhardt recovered from that and his slight brush with the Turn 1 wall to stay on the lead lap.

With two regular-season victories in hand and his spot in the Chase playoffs assured thanks to the points format instituted ahead of the 2014 season, Earnhardt was able to shrug off the disappointment more easily ahead of Sunday’s Windows 10 400 (1:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM) at Pocono Raceway.

"With the old system, you would do everything you could to get the best finish you could," Earnhardt said, "and that might mean forgoing the win and (saying), ‘Hey man, if we do everything X, Y and Z and get lucky on the restarts, we might run 10th or we might finish eighth,’ like some of those guys that we were racing with. But who damn cares about that? I’m sitting in 16th with 20-some laps to go, a lot of guys behind me are coming for tires. Do I want to be the last guy on old tires? No. I don’t want to get eaten up by new tires, get in the wrong line on the restart and get screwed and not be competitive and not be on the offense.

"We’ve got two wins, we’re in the Chase, so what the hell’s it matter between 10th and 20th? Who cares? If we do everything right, we finish 10th. If we don’t do everything right, we finish 20th, but it’s a wash either way. Doesn’t even matter with this points system."

Earnhardt bemoaned the sequence of yellow flags at Indianapolis and how the No. 88 team’s strategy was adversely affected. Still, he championed the power of creative thinking from atop the pit box — a resource that crew chief Greg Ives will have to employ this weekend at Pocono, where short-pitting, targeting fuel windows and other pit strategies frequently come into play.

"The way this system works, you just go win, and if you can’t win, do what everybody else ain’t doing," Earnhardt said. "Do something different. Try something different. The same-ol’, same-ol’ is just going to get you the same boring-ass result."

Posted on by Zack Albert

Meet @nascartireguy and learn how he landed a job in the sport he loves

FOLLOW: @nascartireguy on Twitter

CONCORD, N.C. — David Groseclose carefully takes the 27-year-old photograph out of its frame for closer examination, making it easier to marvel at its full-circle nature. Back then, a 10-year-old David and his older brother, Jeff — both wearing Scouts uniforms — sidled up to an aspiring rookie driver named Brett Bodine to pose for a photograph at the boys’ home track, Bristol Motor Speedway.
 
When their father took that snapshot in 1988, none of the parties could have imagined that the younger Groseclose would one day report to Bodine. That day came in January 2014, when Groseclose, now 37, showed up for work at the NASCAR Research & Development Center as the sanctioning body’s lead tire engineer.

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

• Latest news
• Standings
• Schedule

For Groseclose — who appropriately tweets from the handle @nascartireguy — the position was the realization of a childhood dream, which took root from years of attending races at the Bristol track, just 10 minutes from his hometown of Blountville, Tennessee. When Groseclose stumbled upon the job listing, the enthusiasm was palpable.
 
"Tire engineer? What could be better?" he recalled telling his wife, Susan. "She said, ‘if you don’t apply for that job, I’m going to divorce you.’ "
 
It never came to that, Groseclose laughed. After an initial callback, Groseclose was on the phone with Bodine, leading to an interview with both him and Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR’s senior vice president of innovation and racing development.

RELATED: Go inside the NASCAR R&D Center
 
"David was exactly what we wanted; he had a passion for the sport," Bodine said last weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "As you know, to survive the work schedule and the workload of this sport, you’ve got to have a passion for it. You can’t treat this like a 9-to-5 job. During the interview process, I realized that. That’s what really made myself and Gene Stefanyshyn feel really good about hiring David."
 
Plenty of Groseclose’s passion stems from his long-running association with NASCAR as a fan, attending his first Bristol race at age 5 and — as best as he can recall — falling asleep by the halfway point, overwhelmed by the sights and sounds. He’ll be back Wednesday, overseeing an open test for Sprint Cup teams on the .533-mile track but also taking time to savor the homecoming in the Tennessee hills.

MORE: Teams get ready for Bristol test
 
In a year and a half on the job, Groseclose’s responsibilities have included scheduling and supervising all Goodyear tire tests, analyzing data and driver feedback to help fellow engineers make informed choices for selecting the right compound for a given track. Groseclose said he meets with Goodyear officials on a weekly basis, but that open communication with NASCAR’s tire partner is a daily process. He is also responsible for all sections of the NASCAR Rule Book regarding wheels and tires.
 
Groseclose’s diverse background includes seven years in the U.S. Navy, studies in the field of nuclear power and time spent on the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, but his current duties are a natural extension of his seven-year stint with Bridgestone, where he served as the lead development coordinator and engineer for street tires.
 
"Actually a lot of it transfers. Even though it’s a racing tire, the construction, the basics are the same," Groseclose said. "Every tire’s got a bead, every tire’s got body-ply, every tire’s got some type of belt. Now, passenger tires are steel belts and here they’re not. The tread’s a lot thicker on passenger tires because they’ve got to last a lot longer, but you can’t have that thick of a tread on a racing tire because it heats up too much. If it gets too hot, it’ll start coming apart.
 
"A lot of it’s the same, but parts of it are different because of the extreme conditions that racing tires have to go through."
 
In addition to his work experience, Groseclose continues to draw upon his upbringing as a NASCAR enthusiast in the R&D setting, with Stefanyshyn often asking him to put on his "fan hat" in discussions about improving competition. That role goes even further back; Groseclose’s actual fan hat from his youth was one loaded with souvenir pins, proudly displaying his status as a card-carrying member of the Harry Gant Fan Club.
 
Groseclose’s father attended Bristol’s second-ever race in its inaugural season with his father, watching Joe Weatherly edge Rex White in a battle of NASCAR Hall of Famers in the 1961 Southeastern 500. His parents remain season-ticket holders.
 
Now Groseclose shares his love of the sport with the next generation, his three young boys — ages 8, 5 and 3, with a fourth child on the way, due in December. The only difference is that now it’s not just a pastime for Groseclose, it’s part of his life’s work.
 
"I loved the job I had before. I worked with really good people and it was a great job," Groseclose said. "I had no inclination of changing jobs, but when your dream job comes up, you’ve got to do something, right?"

Posted on by Staff Report

A statistical look ahead to the 21st race of the Sprint Cup season

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Pocono Raceway in Pocono, Pennsylvania going into the WINDOWS 10 400 on August 2 (1:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN).

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

• Latest news
• Standings
• Schedule

POCONO-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

Kurt Busch (No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet)

·         Two wins, 12 top fives, 16 top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 12.421, eighth-best

·         Average Running Position of 10.246, second-best

·         Driver Rating of 105.9, third-best

·         332 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-best

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 162.733, second-fastest

·         2659 Laps in the Top 15 (77.0), second-most

·         774 Quality Passes, seventh-most


Dale Earnhardt Jr (No. 88 MICROSOFT Chevrolet)

·         Two wins, nine top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 15.900, 11th-best

·         Average Running Position of 14.002, 10th-best

·         Driver Rating of 92.6, ninth-best

·         102 Fastest Laps Run, third-best

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 162.237, eighth-fastest

·         2286 Laps in the Top 15 (63.3), eighth-most

·         727 Quality Passes, eighth-most

Carl Edwards (No. 19 STANLEY Toyota)

·         Two wins, five top fives, eight top 10s

·         Average finish of 15.500, 10th-best

·         Average Running Position of 14.826, 13th-best

·         Driver Rating of 94.2, eighth-best

·         176 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-best

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 162.224, ninth-fastest

·         2262 Laps in the Top 15 (62.6), 10th-most

·         712 Quality Passes, ninth-most

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 AARP Member Advantages Chevrolet)

·         Six wins, 19 top fives, 31 top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 9.650, second-best

·         Average Running Position of 9.916, series-best

·         Driver Rating of 103.5, fourth-best

·         169 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-best

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 162.625, fifth-fastest

·         2777 Laps in the Top 15 (76.9), third-most

·         885 Quality Passes, series-most

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota)

·         Four wins, nine top fives, 13 top 10s; three poles

·         Average finish of 11.889, seventh-best

·         Average Running Position of 10.844, fourth-best

·         Driver Rating of 108.3, series-best

·         437 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-best

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 162.806, series-fastest

·         2543 Laps in the Top 15 (79.3), series-most

·         685 Quality Passes, 10th-most

Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Jimmy John’s/Budweiser Chevrolet)

·         Seven top fives, 11 top 10s

·         Average finish of 10.600, fifth-best

·         Average Running Position of 13.743, eighth-best

·         Driver Rating of 91.9, 11th-best

·         63 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-best

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 162.159, 10th-fastest

·         2277 Laps in the Top 15 (63.0), ninth-most

·         789 Quality Passes, sixth-most

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Kobalt Tools Chevrolet)

·         Three wins, 11 top fives, 18 top 10s; three poles

·         Average finish of 10.500, third-best

·         Average Running Position of 10.487, third-best

·         Driver Rating of 106.9, second-best

·         273 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-best

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 162.708, third-fastest

·         2774 Laps in the Top 15 (76.8), fourth-most

·         861 Quality Passes, fourth-most

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Aquafina Chevrolet)

·         Two wins, five top fives, eight top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 18.750, 13th-best

·         Average Running Position of 14.622, 11th-best

·         Driver Rating of 92.1, 10th-best

·         306 Fastest Laps Run, series-best

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 162.436, sixth-fastest

·         2199 Laps in the Top 15 (60.9), 11th-most

·         804 Quality Passes, fifth-most

Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford)

·         One win, three top fives, four top 10s

·         Average finish of 13.400, ninth-best

·         Average Running Position of 14.786, 12th-best

·         Driver Rating of 90.8, 12th-best

·         96 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-best

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 161.894, 13th-fastest

·         852 Laps in the Top 15 (50.1), 13th-most

·         306 Quality Passes, 12th-most

Kyle Larson (No. 42 Suave Men Chevrolet)

·         One top five, two top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 8.000, series-best

·         Average Running Position of 12.672, seventh-best

·         Driver Rating of 95.7, sixth-best

·         2 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-best

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 162.690, fourth-fastest

·         230 Laps in the Top 15 (71.9), seventh-most

·         87 Quality Passes, 13th-most

Joey Logano (No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford)

·         One win, three top fives, five top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 16.583, 12th-best

·         Average Running Position of 13.811, ninth-best

·         Driver Rating of 88.9, 13th-best

·         61 Fastest Laps Run, second-best

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 162.097, 12th-fastest

·         1190 Laps in the Top 15 (56.6), 12th-most

·         456 Quality Passes, 11th-most

Ryan Newman (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)

·         One win, nine top fives, 14 top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 10.500, fourth-best

·         Average Running Position of 11.426, fifth-best

·         Driver Rating of 95.3, seventh-best

·         36 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-best

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 162.135, 11th-fastest

·         2689 Laps in the Top 15 (74.4), fifth-most

·         883 Quality Passes, second-most

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil 1 Chevrolet)

·         Two wins, 12 top fives, 22 top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 10.600, sixth-best

·         Average Running Position of 12.223, sixth-best

·         Driver Rating of 97.6, fifth-best

·         99 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-best

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 162.319, seventh-fastest

·         2619 Laps in the Top 15 (72.5), sixth-most

·         880 Quality Passes, third-most

 

Driver

Races

Poles

Wins

Top Fives

Top 10s

DNFs

Average Finish

Driver Rating

  
 

1

Kevin Harvick

29

0

0

7

11

2

13.2

91.9

  

2

Joey Logano

13

2

1

3

5

1

15.6

88.9

  

3

Dale Earnhardt Jr

31

1

2

9

13

1

15.2

92.6

  

4

Jimmie Johnson

27

3

3

11

18

1

9.6

106.9

  

5

Martin Truex Jr

19

0

1

3

7

0

15.1

80.4

  

6

Brad Keselowski

11

0

1

3

4

0

13.7

90.8

  

7

Matt Kenseth

31

0

0

3

11

1

15.7

86.7

  

8

Kurt Busch

28

2

2

12

16

5

14.4

105.9

  

9

Jamie McMurray

25

1

0

0

7

3

19.3

73.1

  

10

Denny Hamlin

19

3

4

9

13

2

11.8

108.3

  

11

Jeff Gordon

45

2

6

19

31

5

10

103.5

  

12

Ryan Newman

27

2

1

9

14

3

12.4

95.3

  

13

Paul Menard

17

0

0

0

2

1

23.6

64.6

  

14

Kasey Kahne

23

2

2

5

8

3

17.6

92.1

  

15

Clint Bowyer

19

0

0

2

8

0

14.6

82.8

  

16

Carl Edwards

21

0

2

5

8

1

15.5

94.2

  

* – Based on last 21 races at Pocono Raceway (2005 – 2015).

Kyle Busch’s Chase Eligibility

  

30th

Justin Allgaier

 

317

    

Rank

Driver

Wins

Points

Points From 30th

  

31

 Cole Whitt

0

314

-3

  

32

 Kyle Busch

4

294

-23

  

33

 Brett Moffitt #

0

266

-51

  

34

 Alex Bowman

0

245

-72

  

35

 Michael Annett

0

230

-87

  

36

 Matt DiBenedetto #

0

205

-112

  

37

 Josh Wise

0

186

-131

  

38

 Michael McDowell

0

124

-193

  

39

 Jeb Burton

0

111

-206

  

40

 Alex Kennedy

0

71

-246

  

* To be eligible for the Chase, the driver must be in the top 30 of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings following race number 26.

  
 


Pocono Raceway Data

Season Race #: 21 of 36 (08-02-15)

Track Size: 2.5-miles

Banking/Turn 1: 14 degrees

Banking/Turn 2: 8 degrees

Banking/Turn 3: 6 degrees

Frontstretch Length:  3,740 feet

Backstretch Length:  3,055 feet

Shortstretch Length:  1,780 feet

Race Length: 160 laps / 400 miles

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Pocono

Denny Hamlin………………………. 108.3

Jimmie Johnson…………………… 106.9

Kurt Busch………………………….. 105.9

Jeff Gordon………………………… 103.5

Tony Stewart…………………………. 97.6

Kyle Larson………………………….. 95.7

Ryan Newman……………………….. 95.3

Carl Edwards………………………… 94.2

Dale Earnhardt Jr…………………… 92.6

Kasey Kahne………………………… 92.1

Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2015 races (21 total) among active drivers at Pocono Raceway.

Qualifying/Race Data

2014 pole winner:

Kyle Larson, Chevrolet

183.438 mph, 49.063 secs, 08-01-14

2014 race winner:

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet

127.411 mph, (03:08:22), 08-03-14

Track qualifying record:

Kyle Larson, Chevrolet

183.438 mph, 49.610 secs, 08-03-14

Track race record:

Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet

145.384 mph, (03:26:21), 06-12-11

At Pocono Raceway:

History

·         Opened in 1968 as a three-quarter-mile track, Pocono Raceway held the first race on the 2.5-mile track in 1971.

·         The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was in 1974 – won by Richard Petty, Dodge, 115.593 mph, 08/04/1974.

·         The 2.5-mile track was repaved during the fall of 2011.

·       2012 marked the first season the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono were scheduled for 400 miles. Prior to 2012 all NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races were 500 miles at Pocono Raceway.

Starts

·       There have been 75 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Pocono Raceway, one race from 1974 through 1981, and two per year since.

·         327 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway; 229 in more than one.

·         Ricky Rudd leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in starts at Pocono with 55.

·         Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 45 starts (eighth most all-time) at Pocono; followed by Tony Stewart with 33 starts.

·      Denny Hamlin (19 starts) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Pocono with a 6.632.

 

Poles

·      40 drivers have posted Coors Light poles at Pocono, led by Bill Elliott and Ken Schrader with five each; Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin lead all active drivers with three each.

·         Buddy Baker won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Pocono in 1974 with a speed of 144.122 mph. 

·         Five drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Pocono. Bill Elliott holds the record for most consecutive poles at Pocono with three; fall 1984 and both races in 1985.

·      Two active drivers have posted consecutive Coors Light poles at Pocono: Denny Hamlin (2006 sweep) and Joey Logano (fall 2011 and spring 2012).

·         Youngest Pocono pole winner: Joey Logano (08/07/2011 – 21 years, 2 months, 14 days).

·         Oldest Pocono pole winner: David Pearson (06/10/1984 – 49 years, 5 months, 19 days).

·         Kyle Larson (8/03/2014) and Casey Mears (8/1/2004) posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light poles at Pocono Raceway.      

Wins

·         33 different drivers have won at Pocono Raceway, led by Jeff Gordon with six wins.

·       Seven active drivers have multiple wins at Pocono: Jeff Gordon (6), Denny Hamlin (4), Jimmie Johnson (3), Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart (each have 2).   

·       Seven drivers have posted consecutive wins at Pocono Raceway all-time, including three consecutive by Bobby Allison (1982 sweep and spring 1983) and Tim Richmond (1986 sweep and spring 1987).

·      Three of the seven drivers to win consecutive races at Pocono are active: Jimmie Johnson (2004 sweep); Denny Hamlin (2006 sweep and 2009 fall and 2010 spring races) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2014 sweep).

·         Youngest Pocono winner: Joey Logano (06/10/2012 – 22 years, 0 months, 17 days).

·         Oldest Pocono winner: Harry Gant (06/17/1990 – 50 years, 5 months, 7 days).

·       Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins at Pocono in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 17: Jeff Gordon (six), Tim Richmond (three), Jimmie Johnson (three), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (two), Kasey Kahne (one), Geoff Bodine (one) and Terry Labonte (one).

·       Eight different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Pocono; led by Chevrolet with 31 victories; followed by Ford with 21 and Toyota has three.

·       13 of the 75 (17.3%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from the Coors Light pole; the most recent was Joey Logano (June, 2012).

·        15 of the 74 (20%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from the first starting position; the most recent was Jimmie Johnson (June, 2013).

·        The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (15) than any other starting position at Pocono Raceway.    

·       24 of the 75 (32%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from the front row: 15 from the first starting position and nine from second-place.

·         53 of the 75 (70.6%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Pocono have been won from a top-10 starting position.

·       Five of the 75 (6.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.

·        The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Pocono is 29th, by Carl Edwards in the spring of 2005.

·     One active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver has posted his first career win at Pocono Raceway: Denny Hamlin (06/11/06).

·        Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards are the only two active drivers to win at Pocono in their first appearances. 

·        Matt Kenseth leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Pocono without visiting Victory Lane at 31; followed by Kevin Harvick with 29.

Additional Finishing Position Stats

·         Mark Martin leads the series in runner-up finishes at Pocono with seven; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with six; followed by Kurt Busch with five.

·       Mark Martin leads the series in top-five finishes at Pocono with 20; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 19; followed by Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart with 12 each.   

·         Mark Martin leads the series in top-10 finishes at Pocono with 34; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 31; followed by Tony Stewart with 22.

·         Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Pocono with a 9.630.

Track Specific Stats

·         Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Pocono Raceway was the July 23, 2000 race won by Rusty Wallace over Jeff Burton with a MOV of 0.126 seconds.

·      There have been three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Pocono Raceway (Scheduled No. of Laps/Actual No. of Laps): spring of 2005 (200/201); fall of 2005 (200/203); spring of 2010 (200/204).

·        Six of the 75 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono Raceway have been shortened due to weather conditions; the most recent was the event on 8/5/2012.    

·      Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Pocono Raceway five times; most recently the spring of 2013.   

·       Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Pocono with 1,038 laps led in 45 starts.  

·      Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps completed at Pocono with 8,237 laps completed in 45 starts. 

Female Competitor Stats

·         Two female drivers have competed at Pocono Raceway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie and Danica Patrick.

Driver

Starting Position

Finishing Position

Date

Driver Rating

Danica Patrick

22

37

6/7/2015

62.4

Danica Patrick

10

30

8/3/2014

41.4

Danica Patrick

16

37

6/8/2014

55.9

Danica Patrick

34

35

8/4/2013

52.2

Danica Patrick

30

29

6/9/2013

58.1

Averages

22.4

33.6

  

54.0
         

Driver

Starting Position

Finishing Position

Date

  

Janet Guthrie

21

28

7/27/1980

  

Janet Guthrie

22

31

7/30/1978

  

Janet Guthrie

10

11

7/31/1977

  

Averages

17.7

23.3

    

NASCAR in Pennsylvania

·         There have been 109 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races among nine tracks in Pennsylvania.

Track Name

City

NSCS

Pocono Raceway

Long Pond

75

Langhorne Speedway

Langhorne

17

Lincoln Speedway

New Oxford

7

Heidelberg Raceway

Pittsburgh

4

Reading Fairgrounds

Reading

2

Bloomsburg Fairgrounds

Bloomsburg

1

New Bradford Speedway

Bradford

1

Pine Grove Speedway

Shippenville

1

Williams Grove Speedway

Mechanicsburg

1

·         141 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Pennsylvania.

·         Three of the 141 have won in NASCAR’s premiere series.

Driver

NSCS

NNS

NCWTS

Dick Linder

3

0

0

Jimmy Spencer

2

12

1

Mark Donohue

1

0

0

 

MILESTONES – Pocono Raceway

DRIVER

HAS

NEEDS

MILESTONE

DESCRIPTION

  
 

Tony Stewart

574

1

575th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Career Start

Stewart will attempt to tie Geoff Bodine (575) for 24th on the all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts list. 

 

Kurt Busch

524

1

525th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Career Start

Busch will attempt to post his 525th start, he is 33rd on the all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts list. 

 

Greg Biffle

449

1

450th Consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Career Start

Biffle will attempt to post his 450th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series consecutive start. Biffle is ranked seventh on the NSCS active consecutive starts list.

 

Kyle Busch

374

1

375th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Career Start

Busch will attempt to tie Ward Burton (375) for 59th on the all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts list. 

 

Jimmie Johnson

74

2

76th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win

Jimmie Johnson is eighth on the all-time NSCS wins list, two wins behind NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt in seventh (76 wins).

 

Tony Stewart

48

2

50th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win

Stewart is 13th on the all-time NSCS wins list, two wins behind NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett in 12th (50 wins).

 

Carl Edwards

24

1

25th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win

Edwards is 31st on the all-time NSCS wins list, one win behind Dale Earnhardt Jr., Joe Weatherly and Denny Hamlin tied for 28th (25 wins).

 

Jeff Gordon

24,828

172

25,000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Laps Led

Gordon can become the sixth driver in NSCS history to lead 25,000 laps; joining Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough, David Pearson and Bobby Allison.

 

Matt Kenseth

9,598

402

10,000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Laps Led

Kenseth can become the 16th driver in series history to lead 10,000 or more laps. 

 

Kevin Harvick

7,922

78

8,000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Laps Led

Kevin Harvick can become the 24th driver in series history to lead 8,000 or more laps. 

 

#43 car

199

1

200 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Wins

The No. 43 car is second on the all-time NSCS wins list, five wins behind the No. 11 car in first (204). The last win for the No. 43 car came at Daytona last season.

 

Chevrolet

749

1

750th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win

Chevrolet will attempt to post the manufacturer’s 750th win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this weekend. Chevrolet leads the series in wins.

 
Posted on by Pat DeCola
So, about that time Kevin Harvick matched the number of top-fives earned in his 2014 championship season just 20 races into the 2015 season … yeah.
https://www.nascar.com/drivers/kyle-busch/
KyleBusch
4
Joe Gibbs Racing
RELATED:
Harvick upbeat after Indy
With four wins in five races, nobody is as hot as Kyle Busch right now. The only reason he hasn’t surpassed Kevin Harvick in this space is because the reigning champ has been racing right there with him.
https://www.nascar.com/drivers/jimmie-johnson/
JimmieJohnson
-1
Hendrick Motorsports
RELATED:

Busch takes Indy

Joey Logano has six top-five finishes in the past seven races, which he recognizes says a lot about how strong his team is – but the Team Penske driver wants wins.
https://www.nascar.com/drivers/dale-earnhardt-jr/
DaleEarnhardt Jr.
-2
Hendrick Motorsports
RELATED:

Logano: ‘I’m glad (Busch is) back, but geez’

https://www.nascar.com/drivers/brad-keselowski/
BradKeselowski
-2
Team Penske
Tough to say what happened to Johnson and Co. at the Brickyard, but it was a down day for Hendrick Motorsports overall. With another good track for the organization coming up, they’ll look to reboot things and get back on track.
RELATED:

Johnson on expiring contract

Truex notched his first top 10 since Michigan when he finished fourth at Indy and now heads to the site of his sole win of the season. Good mojo.
https://www.nascar.com/drivers/denny-hamlin/
DennyHamlin
1
Joe Gibbs Racing
As we all know, Junior swept Pocono last season. Earnhardt Jr.’s third win of 2015 could very well be at the Tricky Triangle.
RELATED:

Junior, Kahne collide

Keselowski nearly pulled off quite a feat and used an alternate strategy contend for the Brickyard 400 win from a 31st starting position, but cautions didn’t fall the way he needed and his plan was foiled, despite leading 17 laps.
Busch has been consistently well-above average this season, finishing worse than 15th just a single time. Oh, and he’s the most recent pole winner at Pocono.
Kenseth has remained steady at ninth overall in these Power Rankings, but that’s just what Kenseth is – steady. His past three races, he’s finished fifth, sixth and seventh.
Hamlin’s poor finishes seem to be fading into the past and he’s starting to emerge as a legitimate candidate for more race wins, he just has to earn them. Pocono (four wins) could be a start.
McMurray hasn’t finished in the top 10 since rolling off back-to-back-to-back seventh-place finishes, the second of which was at Pocono.
https://www.nascar.com/drivers/clint-bowyer/
ClintBowyer
1
Stewart-Haas Racing
What a drag. In Jeff Gordon’s final Brickyard 400, a run-in with Clint Bowyer cut short any hopes of finding Victory Lane and, in fact, created perhaps Gordon’s most frustrating day of the season.
RELATED:

Gordon kisses Brickyard goodbye

Sunday’s pole-winner led 20 laps but couldn’t capitalize on a late restart and fell back significantly. Still, the speed Edwards has shown in recent weeks – coupled with the success of that teammate of his who keeps landing in Victory Lane – is encouraging.
Newman wrecked out of the year’s first Pocono race and he’d be well-advised to not do so again, given his shaky-at-best handle of a Chase spot right now.
Posted on by Nascar

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams will be looking to get a jump on the competition for next month’s annual night race at Bristol Motor Speedway as several teams are scheduled to take part in an open test this Wednesday at the 0.533-mile track.

Team Penske driver Joey Logano, the defending winner of the Irwin Tools Night Race, heads up a list that includes Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Roush Fenway Racing), Jamie McMurray (Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates), David Ragan (Michael Waltrip Racing), Paul Menard (Richard Childress Racing), Carl Edwards (Joe Gibbs Racing), Danica Patrick (Stewart-Haas Racing), Ryan Blaney (Wood Brothers Racing), Kasey Kahne (Hendrick Motorsports) and Aric Almirola (Richard Petty Motorsports). The list of teams testing is subject to change.

A two-day Goodyear tire test previously scheduled for Monday and Tuesday has been canceled.

The Bristol race will be one of the final three opportunities for drivers to earn one of the 16 positions in this year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup, which kicks off Sunday, Sept. 20 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.

Drivers already assured of a Chase berth (by starting the remaining non-Chase races) are six-time Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick) and teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr., defending Sprint Cup champ Kevin Harvick (SHR) and Kurt Busch (SHR).

The BMS session will be the 10th such opportunity for teams to test and gather data under NASCAR’s 2015 National Series Unified Testing Policy. The sanctioning body no longer allows private team testing for any of its national touring series.

The Irwin Tools Night Race is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 22 (7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR).

Posted on by Nascar

RELATED: Full race results | Updated standings

 

SPEEDWAY, Ind. — NASCAR officials say the results of the high drag package used in Sunday’s Crown Royal presents the Jeff Kyle 400 at the Brickyard will have to be broken down, studied and examined before any determination about the success, or lack of it, can be fully understood.

Those competing in the race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway have already formed their opinion.

“I think we were all expecting there to be more drafting than there was,” 2012 Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski (Team Penske) said. “I don’t think the draft was much different than last year and the penalty for being behind someone in the corner was more significant.”

Keselowski finished 10th and led 17 laps on the day.

There were a significant number of lead changes, 16 in the 164-lap race, but the majority took place as teams cycled through green-flag pit stops or inherited the lead by staying out under the caution flag as they worked various fuel strategies.

“It’s terrible, that’s what I think,” Matt Kenseth (Joe Gibbs Racing), said. “You just can’t pass. Yeah, you can run up on the straightaway a little bit, but you can’t run though the corner with anything.”

NASCAR debuted a high drag package for Sunday’s race, one that featured a taller spoiler (measuring 9 inches high) and other aerodynamic changes to the cars. The hope was that the larger spoiler would provide more side-by-side racing, perhaps enhance drafting, and lessen the advantage enjoyed by the lead car. A similar package is scheduled for next month when the series travels to Michigan International Speedway.

But except for the few laps following restarts, drivers said they were mostly unable to race side-by-side for much of the event.

“I just didn’t like the way a car would drive loose behind other cars and tight in front of other cars,” Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kurt Busch said after his eighth-place finish. “That’s opposite of normal. And it really seemed odd the way they raced. I wish there was more of a draft, but those only pop up on restarts.”

Race winner Kyle Busch isn’t sold on the package, either, although he said there were some positives to take away from the experience.

“When I was by myself, I felt like (it) was a really good race car,” Busch, a winner of the last three Sprint Cup races, said. “I felt like I had the car to beat.

“But then when you got back in traffic, whether you were behind a guy or behind a group of cars, you were horrible. It was just absolutely so hard to handle in traffic.

“It’s not sometimes such a bad thing, but you don’t want to feel like you’re going off into the corner and you’re going to crash every time. … You want to have some sort of security. I think there’s something to be learned from today. I’m not sure it’s the right combination exactly, but I think there’s some benefits to it.”

None of the upcoming 10 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup races will be contested on tracks where the high drag package is a viable option.

A lower downforce package, used at Kentucky Speedway recently, will be tweaked and used at Darlington later this year. But NASCAR officials have said there are no current plans to use that platform in the Chase.

“I didn’t like it as much as what we had at Kentucky, but it was something different,” JGR’s Denny Hamlin said. “We needed to try something different and it was an experiment. I just prefer the other (package). I think this makes too big of a wake for the car.”

Teams tested here at Indy in April, but not with the high drag package.

“To come back and have to race something different was a huge undertaking for the teams for a huge science project that probably didn’t really change that much,” said third-place finisher Kevin Harvick (SHR). “But everybody tried real hard, and in the end, I think our goal is more drafting and more pack racing, so we’ll see if we can get to that.”

Posted on by Staff Report
Driver No. From To
Richard Petty 10 08/12/1967 10/01/1967
Richard Petty 6 07/14/1971 08/08/1971
Bobby Allison 5 05/30/1971 06/23/1971
Dale Earnhardt 4 03/29/1987 04/26/1987
Bill Elliott 4 03/01/1992 03/29/1992
Harry Gant 4 09/01/1991 09/22/1991
Jeff Gordon 4 07/26/1998 08/16/1998
Jimmie Johnson 4 10/21/2007 11/11/2007
Mark Martin 4 08/08/1993 09/05/1993
David Pearson 4 04/03/1966 04/11/1966
David Pearson 4 05/05/1968 05/18/1968
Billy Wade 4 07/10/1964 07/19/1964
Darrell Waltrip 4 09/27/1981 11/01/1981
Cale Yarborough 4 09/12/1976 10/03/1976
Kyle Busch 3 07/11/2015 07/26/2015
Bobby Allison 3 10/29/1967 11/12/1967
Bobby Allison 3 07/09/1972 07/23/1972
Bobby Allison 3 09/05/1983 09/18/1983
Buck Baker 3 05/13/1956 05/25/1956
Dale Earnhardt 3 08/22/1987 09/13/1987
Jeff Gordon 3 09/15/1996 09/29/1996
Jeff Gordon 3 11/01/1998 02/14/1999
Bobby Isaac 3 04/03/1969 04/08/1969
Jimmie Johnson 3 10/16/2004 10/31/2004
Junior Johnson 3 06/05/1958 06/15/1958
Junior Johnson 3 08/13/1961 08/27/1961
David Pearson 3 08/08/1968 08/18/1968
David Pearson 3 04/15/1973 05/06/1973
David Pearson 3 05/30/1976 06/20/1976
Richard Petty 3 07/28/1974 08/11/1974
Richard Petty 3 03/16/1975 04/06/1975
Richard Petty 3 09/15/1968 09/29/1968
Richard Petty 3 09/13/1970 09/30/1970
Richard Petty 3 03/07/1971 03/21/1971
Richard Petty 3 04/15/1971 04/25/1971
Richard Petty 3 08/15/1962 08/21/1962
Richard Petty 3 04/21/1963 05/02/1963
Richard Petty 3 04/30/1966 05/10/1966
Richard Petty 3 07/13/1967 07/23/1967
Dick Rathmann 3 05/04/1952 05/18/1952
Fireball Roberts 3 04/07/1957 04/19/1957
Herb Thomas 3 09/08/1951 09/23/1951
Herb Thomas 3 06/27/1954 07/04/1954
Rusty Wallace 3 10/09/1988 10/23/1988
Rusty Wallace 3 04/04/1993 04/25/1993
Rusty Wallace 3 06/05/1994 06/19/1994