2010 Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway Preview:
Pocono Superspeedway takes center stage this weekend in the Race to the Chase. There are only six races remaining until the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup begins. Drivers who are still outside the top twelve in points are running out of time to qualify for the Chase. The heat is building for Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ryan Newman and Jamie McMurray who are all on the outside looking in as Clint Bowyer clings to the final Chase spot.
Tickets:
Speedway ticket office 1-800-RACEWAY
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:
Last week Kevin Harvick finished up front once again and extended his 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup point lead. Harvick's three closest chasers in the points were non-factors in the Brickyard 400 each finishing outside of the top ten.
The top twelve are now:
- Kevin Harvick
- Jeff Gordon -184
- Denny Hamlin -260
- Jimmie Johnson -261
- Kurt Busch -262
- Kyle Busch -290
- Jeff Burton -305
- Matt Kenseth -347
- Tony Stewart -376
- Carl Edwards -424
- Greg Biffle -458
- Clint Bowyer -474
Storylines:
After Sunday only five races will remain until the top twelve drivers will be locked into the 2010 Chase for the Cup.
Only Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are within 100 points of twelfth place Clint Bowyer while Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne are knotted up roughly 150 points out of twelfth.
The 2010 NASCAR regular season is quickly winding down. It is time for drivers on the outside looking in to turn up the intensity and consistency and put some points on the board if they want to be in the 2010 Chase for the Cup.
Media Coverage:
TV: ESPN Sunday, August 1st, 12:00PM Eastern.
Radio: MRN and SIRIUS Satellite
Actual Race: 1:00PM Eastern
Recent Events:
2009 Polesitter: None - Weather
2009 Winner: Denny Hamlin
Last Year:
The 2009 Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 was pushed to Monday because of the weather. When the green flag finally flew the race was quiet until late when the drivers turned up the aggression and started to race. The level of aggression was through the roof and there were multiple late race cautions keeping the field bunched together.
Denny Hamlin got clear of the pack and was able to run Clint Bowyer down for the lead as the laps ticked away. Juan Montoya was in third and closed in to make it a three horse race for the win.
Hamlin picked up the win over Montoya and Bowyer.
Predictions:
Pocono Raceway has seen season sweeps by a single driver six times. Most recently Jimmie Johnson in 2004 and Denny Hamlin did it in 2006. Denny Hamlin is the defending winner of this race and, oh yeah, he also won here just seven races ago. Denny Hamlin is the king of Pocono and makes a great pick this weekend to complete the Pocono sweep.
Kyle Busch finished second here in June. If he can keep the fenders on his car he makes a great backup pick.
