NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: Pocono

Track Classification: Superspeedway

Similar Tracks: Daytona International Raceway •  Auto Club Speedway (Fontana)  

Indianapolis Motor Speedway • Michigan International Speedway • Talladega Superspeedway

Distance: 2.5 Miles

Drivers with Most Top 10s (Last 5 Years):

By Race

Jimmie Johnson - 5

All with 4 - Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Denny Hamlin
All with 3 - Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano, Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman and Jamie McMurray

By Track
Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 6

All with 5 -  Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman and Denny Hamlin
Both with 4- Clint Bowyer, Brad Keselowski, Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray and Kurt Busch.

Recent Pole Winners:  

2015 Kurt Busch
2014 Denny Hamlin

Last Year's Race Winner: Martin Truex Jr.

The Likely Suspects: Pocono Raceway, also known as The Tricky Triangle, has nothing on these drivers who have mastered the nuances of this track to perfection. They include Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray and last week's race winner and the defending champ of this race last year, Martin Truex Jr. Of course, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch and Kyle Larson are also worthy considerations this week.

My 2 Cents: My no-brainer pick this week is a three-way tie between Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Newman.  My next picks are Kurt Busch, Kyle Larson and Tony Stewart. I will complete my team with Ryan Blaney and Ty Dillon.

My Final Four: Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney.

Points to Ponder:

• The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (15) than any other starting spot at Pocono.  
• Of the 76 Cup races at Pocono, 54 (71.1%) have been won from a top-10 starting position. 
• Seven active drivers have multiple wins at Pocono: Denny Hamlin (4), Jimmie Johnson (3), Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart (each have 2). 
• Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins at Pocono in the 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.
• Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart lead all active drivers in top-five finishes with 12 each.  
• Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Pocono with a 9.500.

Enjoy the race! Post your comments here or follow me on Twitter @purplecatpr.