2007 Pocono 500 Preview:
This weekend the NASCAR family will gather at Pocono Raceway for the 2007 Pocono 500. As the recent loss of Bill France Jr. looms over the sport NASCAR will remember him by doing what it does best, racing.
Last year Denny Hamlin dominated Pocono as a rookie. He won the pole and the race for this event and backed it up with another Pocono victory later that year. Who will find the magic combination this year at the tricky triangle called Pocono Raceway?
Tickets:
Speedway ticket office 1-800-RACEWAY
Buy online from TicketsNow (direct link)
The Track:
Pocono Speedway is a 2.5 mile three-cornered speedway. The triangle-shaped track has three different corner lengths and bankings making it very difficult to set up a car and to drive well. Pocono is, in a word, unique.
Even though Pocono is difficult to set up for and drive. Pocono Raceway frequently hosts great racing with events often decided within the last couple of laps.
Race Distance:
200 Laps = 500 Miles
The Big Picture:
Jeff Gordon posted another top ten finish and maintained the point lead. The top five all remained the same.
At the back of The Chase Mark Martin moved into twelfth in points and now holds down the final Chase qualifying spot. This is remarkable since Mark has done it while running three fewer races. Mark is scheduled to race this week in Pocono.
The current top twelve in points are:
- Jeff Gordon -0
- Jimmie Johnson -152
- Matt Kenseth -190
- Denny Hamlin -217
- Jeff Burton -355
- Carl Edwards -475
- Tony Stewart -486
- Clint Bowyer -534
- Kevin Harvick -541
- Kyle Busch -588
- Kurt Busch -620
- Mark Martin -624
Storylines:
The mourning of
Bill France Jr. tops the news this week. NASCAR was a regional sport popular mostly in the southeast until Bill France Jr. took over his father's dream. In just a few years' time Bill France Jr. signed Winston as the series title sponsor, cleaned up the schedule and got NASCAR on live national television. Bill France Jr. put NASCAR on the map.
Media Coverage:
TV: TNT Sunday, June 10th, 1:00PM Eastern.
Radio: MRN and SIRIUS Satellite
Actual Race: 2:10PM Eastern
Posted Awards:
$4,940,543
Last Year:
The 2006 Pocono 500 certainly delivered a unique win. Rookie Denny Hamlin started on the pole and was leading when he cut a tire and spun on lap fifty one. However, when the checkered flag flew 149 laps later Hamlin had recovered for the first victory of his NEXTEL Cup career.
Predictions:
Sometimes a driver finds just the right setup combination that matches his driving style for a particular track. In 2006 Denny Hamlin won both Pocono poles and both Pocono races. He clearly had this track dialed in. Denny Hamlin has to be one of the favorites again this year in Pocono.
For my backup this week I am going with a NASCAR veteran who has never won at Pocono. Mark Martin has had a number of good runs in Pocono but fate never saw fit to deliver him to Victory Lane. Mark has been very fast in his new Ginn Chevy and this might be the week that Mark breaks through.
