NASCAR
Stratta’s Six: Who Can Propel Themselves to a Pocono Raceway Win?
Leaving the Chicago Streets in the rearview mirror, another unique tracks lies ahead for NASCAR contenders. Pocono Raceway plays host this weekend with The Great American Getaway 400. The Tricky Triangle kicks off the regular season’s homestretch; only five races remain after Sunday. Who can conquer Pocono’s three different turns and get a season-defining win? Here are a few drivers to watch out for in Pennsylvania.
Denny Hamlin
Pocono Raceway has become Denny Hamlin’s personal playground in recent years. A strong case can be made that the Pennsylvania venue is Hamlin’s strongest track today. Driver 11 has an all-time record seven wins here, nine-straight races led, and 22 top-10s in 34 starts. If not for an illegal piece of tape in 2022, Hamlin would be going for a triangle threepeat this weekend. As confident as ever for a victory, Hamlin is eager for a Long Pond return.
“I feel like we have executed extremely well at Pocono,” Hamlin said. “That and the racetrack certainly fits my driving style. I typically don’t drive very deep into the corner; instead, I try to get good exit speeds. Pocono has such long straightaways, so you get rewarded for that exit speed. I love the racetrack itself. It seems like the fans continue to come out in huge numbers every time we go to Pocono. They have improved it. They have great family facilities in the infield with a huge playground for all the kids. So I think Pocono is one of the great racetracks that we continue to visit every year.”
Not counting the infamous DQ from two years ago, Hamlin’s been in the top-10 for all but one Pocono race since 2018. Team 11 looks to peak in perfect time for a Playoff run. The winner will likely come through this Toyota, but the competition may have a long Sunday ahead. Hamlin enters Pocono as the standalone favorite. Hamlin’s 50th career win came at Pocono, number 55 may also come here.
Kyle Larson
0-16 is shockingly Kyle Larson’s Pocono record, with a best finish of second coming twice. The Hendrick Motorsports driver has led laps in four of his last six trips around the triangle however, and was within eyesight of victory here in 2021. Should Larson’s tires all stay inflated this time, he will likely be Hamlin’s stiffest competition for another win.
“We seem to have good pace at Pocono, so I enjoy going there,” Larson said. “We’ve been real close to a win a couple of times. Cliff (Daniels, crew chief) and the team do a good job of understanding the race strategies and executing, so hopefully we put ourselves in position to battle for a win again.”
This race a year ago pitted Larson against Hamlin, until the 11 booted him out of the way on a late restart. Both drivers are gunning for a record fourth win of 2024, and have the two best odds for Sunday.
Brad Keselowski
Pocono’s massive size allows for race strategies to be all over the map. No driver is more cunning and calculating than Brad Keselowski. While it’s been 12 years since his lone triangle triumph, Keselowski could show out again on Sunday. This Matt McCall-led RFK Racing crew is known for unique and out-of-the-box plays. A daring pit road call may land them back in victory lane.
Martin Truex Jr
Few drivers have been more consistent around Pocono than Martin Truex Jr. The two-time triangle winner has two top-10s here in the Next Gen car, finishing seventh and third the last two years. Pocono is one of MTJ’s best statistical tracks on the circuit, and would be a fitting place to find victory in his farewell season.
“Really looking forward to going to Pocono this weekend in our Interstate Batteries car,” Truex said. “It’s one of our home tracks, as they say. I’ve won there a couple of times. But really excited to get back with the fast racecars James (Small, crew chief) and all the 19 guys have been bringing to the track lately. We’re fired up and hope we can get another win at Pocono, but this time with Interstate Batteries on board with us.”
“Pocono really tests every aspect of your car – horsepower, downforce, you name it. You’ve got to make your car work in all three corners and each one is so different, it’s a challenge. The setup has to be spot on because all three corners are unique. It’s really hard to make your car work around there. Track position is key, so you have to qualify well and you have to have a fast car. But you have to have the right strategy, too, because if you get off strategy and lose track position, it’s going to be a tough day. The Next Gen car has been even more track-position sensitive than before, so you have to try to stay near the front all day. You have to have a good racecar there and I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of them over the years there and we’ve had some success. I know the guys will bring a good car this weekend and would love to get Interstate Batteries to victory lane there.”
It’s now been over a year since Truex’s last checkered flag, with retirement nearing on the distant horizon. The No. 19 Toyota is currently in the Playoffs by a wide margin. A breakthrough win however would help kickstart a possible swan song championship run. If Hamlin is to be beaten this weekend, it may come from his veteran teammate.
Alex Bowman
A week removed from ending an 80-race losing drought, can Alex Bowman go back-to-back? Pocono Raceway has been kind to Bowman over the years, highlighted with a 2021 win. Aside from that last lap melee, the triangle has given driver 48 three finishes of 11th or better since 2020.
“I’m excited going into Pocono where we won before and were really strong last year before we crashed,” Bowman said. “I feel really good going into this weekend. It’s always an interesting race and you typically see varying strategies with just with how big the racetrack is. You’re able to flip stages and kind of run it more like a road course race than a normal oval race because of the size of the track. We have Best Friends back on the car this week, which is going to be really cool. On Friday, we are going to stop into the Best Friends Life Saving Center in New York City. That will be a lot of fun as well. Hopefully we can go get another win.”
Few could have predicted a Bowman win on the Chicago streets. The Playoff-bound team will try and prove doubters wrong a second week in a row.
Tyler Reddick
One driver has been trending towards a win both in recent weeks and at Pocono–Tyler Reddick. The 23XI Racing driver has two straight runner-up results in Pennsylvania. He was also in contention on the last lap at Nashville and Chicago. Toyotas seemingly have Pocono figured out, and Reddick is hoping to deliver Denny Hamlin his first win here as an owner.
“Right now with the car that we have, Pocono is more about what kind of racecar you bring to the racetrack,” Reddick said. “The teams that bring the most capability in a car find their way to the front. So certainly there’s driver input that matters. But I think when you go to a place like Pocono, it’s more of just showcasing what your team currently has for speed.”
Third in Nashville and second in Chicago have the No. 45 team red hot in this summer stretch. This weekend marks an unfortunate anniversary for this team however. Pocono will be two years since Kurt Busch’s career-ending injury. With that somber moment in mind, 23XI Racing and the 45 crew especially would love nothing more than to conquer Pocono. Following two bridesmaid outings, Reddick hopes a third time is the charm on the Tricky Triangle.
Toyotas are the manufacturer to beat at Pocono, with eight of the last 11 wins here. A green flag run to the end on Sunday would open the door wide open for a winning strategy however. Whether on raw speed, fuel mileage, or sheer luck, Pocono’s winners are never certain until the final corner. The Great American Getaway 400 goes green at 2:30 p.m. ET on USA, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. With Playoff pressure mounting, can we see a walk-off win to seal a driver’s postseason fate?
Written by Peter Stratta
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