Thursday, June 9, 2011

Driver Chassis Selections For 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway

Note: Not all teams list chassis selections in their PR releases

Winning Vegas chassis also was runner-up at Darlington
1. Carl Edwards: Coming off sixth top 10 in 12 starts with a third-place finish; Winner of the 2008 August race; Second-best average finish (7.5) in the six races with the COT; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 732) that he won with at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March.

2. Jimmie Johnson: Has finished 10th or better in six of the last seven races; Swept both races in 2004; Leads all drivers with a 7.3 average finish in the six races with the COT; Second in laps led with 517; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 650) that he finished ninth with at Dover International Speedway in May.

3. Dale Earnhardt Jr: 19.5 average finish in six starts with Hendrick Motorsports; Only top 10 with HMS came in this event in 2008 in fourth; Posted five top-10s in previous 16 starts with Dale Earnhardt, Inc; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 649) that he finished 12th with at Dover International Speedway in May.

4. Kevin Harvick: Seven top-10s in 20 starts; Only laps led (5) came in this event last year; Finished fourth in both events in 2010; Fourth-best average finish (10.2) in the six races with the COT; Will race the same car (chassis No. 288) that the team used eight times in 2010, including a win at Michigan International Speedway.

Kyle Busch using his Richmond winner this week (Getty)
5. Kyle Busch: Won the pole and finished second in this event last year; Finish is only top 10 in six starts with Joe Gibbs Racing; Posted two top-10s in previous six starts with Hendrick Motorsports; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 302) that he most recently won with at Richmond International Raceway in April.

6. Kurt Busch: Six top-10s, including one win (2007) in 10 starts with Penske Racing; Also won in 2005 with Roush Racing; 371 laps led in 20 overall starts.

7. Matt Kenseth: Last of eight top-10s came in this event in 2008; Tied for the Eighth-best average finish (13.3) in the six races with the COT; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 751) that he last finished 21st with at Richmond International Raceway in April.

8. Tony Stewart: Two-time winner; 4.0 average finish in four starts with Stewart-Haas; Posted 14 top-10s in previous 20 starts with Joe Gibbs Racing; Best average finish (2.5) in both races in 2010; Third-best average finish (8.8) in the six races with the COT; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 640) that he finished seventh with at Darlington Raceway in May.

9. Clint Bowyer: Has finished 15th or better in the last five races; Five top-10s in 10 starts; Finished ninth in this event last year; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 350) that he finished second with at Texas Motor Speedway and 15th in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

10. Ryan Newman: 11.3 average finish in four starts with Stewart-Haas; Posted six top-10s, including a win (2003) in previous 14 starts with Penske Racing; Seventh-best average finish (12.8) in the six races with the COT; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 609) that he last finished fifth with at Auto Club Speedway.

11. Denny Hamlin: Defending race winner; Win was fourth in 10 starts; Second-best average finish (3.0) in both races in 2010; Tied for the fifth-best average finish (11.8) in the six races with the COT; Third in laps led with 498.

12. Greg Biffle: Coming off first win in 16 starts; Win was first top 10 in last nine races; Will return in the same chassis (No. 706) that he finished 28th with at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

13. Jeff Gordon: Coming off 25th top 10 in 36 starts; Four-time winner with the last coming in this event in 2007; Tied for the sixth-best average finish (12.3) in the six races with the COT; Leads all drivers with 918 laps led.

14. Mark Martin: Leads all drivers in top-fives (19) and top-10s (33); 15.5 average finish in four starts with Hendrick Motorsports; Tied for the Eighth-best average finish (13.3) in the six races with the COT; Fourth in laps led with 444.

15. Juan Pablo Montoya: 8.5 average finish in last four starts; Finished eighth in this event last year; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 1103) that he finished 10th with after starting from the pole at Auto Club Speedway in March.

16. AJ Allmendinger: Scored only top 10 (10th) in seven starts in this event last year; Has yet to lead a lap; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 729) that he most recently finished 20th with at Darlington Raceway.

17. David Ragan: Scored only top 10 (fifth) in the 2008 August race; 22.0 average finish in eight starts; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 759) that he finished 28th with at Dover International Speedway in May.

Ambrose could be a driver to excel at Pocono with shifting
18. Kasey Kahne: Won this event from the pole in 2008 with Gillett Evernham Motorsports; Last of five top-10s (fifth) came in the 2009 August race with Richard Petty Motorsports; Will make first track start with Team Red Bull; Tied for the sixth-best average finish (12.3) in the six races with the COT.

19. Marcos Ambrose: 27.2 average finish in four starts; Finished sixth in this event in 2009; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 754) that he most recently finished third with at Dover International Raceway.

20. Paul Menard: Has yet to finish in the top 10 in eight starts; Making first track start with Richard Childress Racing; Will return in the same car that he most recently finished 24th with at Dover International Speedway in May.

- compiled by Jeff Wackerlin, MotorRacingNetwork.com

No comments: