2012 Watkins Glen Odds & Ends: Finger Lakes 355

At Watkins Glen International:

History

·         After several events were held on the streets of Watkins Glen, a permanent facility was opened in 1956.

·         The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was in 1957, won by Buck Baker.

·         After a six-year absence, NASCAR returned to The Glen in 1964 and 1965.

·         After a 21-year absence, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returned to The Glen, and has run one race a year there since 1986. This weekend’s race will be the 27th running since its return in 1986.

Notebook

·         There have been 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Watkins Glen International since the first race there in 1957.

·         Buck Baker won the first pole and race.

·         Tim Richmond won the first pole and race upon the series’ return in 1986.

·         There have been 17 different pole winners.

·         The race winner has started first in nine of 29 races. The last race winner to start from the pole was Kyle Buschin 2008.

·         Mark Martin leads all drivers with wins from the pole with three in a row between 1993, 1994 and 1995.

·         19 of the 29 races at Watkins Glen have been won from a top-five starting position.

·         21 of the 29 races at Watkins Glen have been won from a top-10 starting position.

·         The deepest in the field that a Watkins Glen race winner has started was 18th by Steve Park in 2000.

·         18 different drivers have won races, led by Tony Stewart, with five.

·         Jeff Gordon set the all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup record for road-course victories with his victory in 2001, his seventh on a road course. He has since won two more (both at Sonoma), for a career total of nine.

·         Three active drivers with more than one start have an average finish in the top 10: Marcos Ambrose (2.2 in four starts), Tony Stewart (7.0 in 13 starts), Carl Edwards (8.7 in seven starts), and Kyle Busch (9.2 in seven starts).

·         Two drivers have scored their first career NSCS wins at Watkins Glen International: Marcos Ambrose(08/15/2011) and Steve Park (08/13/2000).

·         Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Watkins Glen International winner: Kyle Busch (08/10/2008 – 23 years, 3 months, 8 days).

·         Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Watkins Glen International winner: Geoff Bodine (08/11/1996 – 47 years, 3 months, 24 days).

Watkins Glen International Data

Race #: 22 of 36 (08-12-12)

Track Size: 2.45-miles

Number of Turns: 7

Race Length: 90 laps / 220.5 miles

Top 12 Driver Rating at Watkins Glen

Tony Stewart............................. 124.8

Marcos Ambrose....................... 118.0

Juan Pablo Montoya.................. 112.6

Kyle Busch............................... 106.8

Jimmie Johnson......................... 100.7

Kurt Busch................................. 94.7

Denny Hamlin............................. 93.5

Carl Edwards.............................. 93.5

Jeff Gordon................................. 90.1

Kevin Harvick.............................. 89.2

Brad Keselowski......................... 88.1

Martin Truex Jr............................ 87.6

Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-2011 races (seven total) at Watkins Glen International.

Qualifying/Race Data

2011 pole winner:

Kyle Busch, Toyota (126.421 mph, 69.767 sec., 08-13-11)

2011 race winner:

Marcos Ambrose, Ford (99.417 mph, 2:16:02, 08-14-11)

Track qualifying record:

Kyle Busch, Toyota (126.421 mph, 69.767 sec., 08-13-11)

Track race record:

Mark Martin, Ford (103.030 mph, 2:11:54, 08-13-95)

NASCAR in New York

·         There have been 67 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in New York:

Track Name	City	NSCS
Watkins Glen International	Watkins Glen	29
Airborne Speedway	Plattsburg	1
Albany Saratoga Speedway	Malta	2
Altamont-Schenectady Fairgrounds	Altamont	2
Bridgehampton Race Circuit	Bridgehampton	4
Buffalo Civic Stadium	Buffalo	1
Fonda Speedway	Fonda	4
Hamburg Speedway	Hamburg	2
Islip Speedway	Islip	6
Monroe County Fairgrounds	Rochester	8
Montgomery Air Base	Montgomery	1
New York State Fairgrounds	Syracuse	3
State Line Speedway	Busti	1
Vernon Fairgrounds	Vernon	2
Wine Creek Race Track	Owego	1

·         180 drivers in NASCAR’s three national series (all-time) have their home state recorded as New York.

·         There have been 14 race winners from New York in NASCAR’s three national series:

Driver	NSCS	NNS	NCWTS
Geoff Bodine	18	6	0
Jim Reed	7	0	0
Al Keller	2	0	0
Steve Park	2	3	1
Brett Bodine	1	5	0
Jim Hurtubise	1	0	0
Lloyd Moore	1	0	0
Bill Rexford	1	0	0
Greg Sacks	1	1	0
Regan Smith	1	0	0
Jack White	1	0	0
Todd Bodine	0	15	22
Mike McLaughlin	0	6	0
Donny Lia	0	0	1

Watkins Glen Storylines: Jeff Gordon Back in the Mix

Gordon's 86th career win came with perfect timing (Getty)   

No counting out Jeff Gordon. The four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion appeared destined to miss this year’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ as recently as June when he ranked outside the top-20 "wild card" eligibility list.

No longer. Gordon posted career victory No. 86 at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, climbed to 13th in points and ousted Kyle Busch from the second provisional "wild card" spot. He joins Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne, a two-time winner, in the "wild card" derby that ends Sept. 8 at Richmond International Raceway, the final stop before the Chase field is set.

Chase seeding remains crowded at the top. Gordon’s teammate Johnson missed a golden opportunity – a 91st lap spin while leading – to add three more bonus points to the nine he shares with Tony Stewart and Brad Keselowski. All are three-time season winners.

Stewart might be the favorite to take over the provisional No. 1 seeding on Sunday at Watkins Glen International where the reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champion has won five times – most at the 2.45-mile road course. Keselowski, however, finished second at The Glen a year ago and bids to become the track’s third consecutive first-time winner.

Bitterly disappointed the week before in Indianapolis, NASCAR Nationwide Series points leader Elliott Sadler bounced back in the best possible way at Iowa Speedway. Sadler won for the fourth time in 2012 and extended his championship lead over Richard Childress Racing teammate Austin Dillon to 18 points.

Saturday’s event at Watkins Glen International is the second of three road course events for the series this season. Sadler has the edge in experience over the current top four championship contenders and was 10th at The Glen last year. Fourth-place Sam Hornish Jr. was the top finisher (fifth) when the series visited Road America in June.

The series completes its road racing menu on Aug. 18 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada.

Joey Coulter became the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ fourth first-time winner last Saturday at Pocono Raceway. The 22-year-old from Miami Springs, Fla. notched the sixth victory of the season by an under-30 competitor.

Timothy Peters continues to lead the championship standings heading for the series’ next event Aug. 18 at Michigan International Speedway. Eighteen points spans positions one through four as the season enters its second half.

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

Gordon On Cusp Of Making Chase After All
Never count out a four-time champion and 85-race winner until the last lap has been run. Jeff Gordon has come all the way back from a 35th-place ranking following the Daytona 500 to lay claim – for the moment anyway – to the second of two "wild card" qualifying berths for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™. He was outside the top 20 and ineligible for a "wild card" as recently as June’s Pocono stop. He now stands 13th. Being in the right place at the right time to break a 31-race drought and score his 86th NASCAR Sprint Cup victory, Gordon joined Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne at the top of the "wild card" standings with five races remaining until the post-season lineup of 12 drivers is set. Gordon might need another victory to cement his "wild card" status but has won a combined 18 races at tracks left in the Race to the Chase. He is a four-time winner at the next stop – Sunday’s road race at Watkins Glen International – but not since 2001.

Kyle Busch Needs To Quickly Rediscover Winning Vibe
Where there’s a winner – Gordon – there’s a loser. And that guy is Kyle Busch. Busch dropped to 15th in NASCAR Sprint Cup points after Pocono’s race and stands fourth of five winners ranked 11th through 20th in the standings. After winning no fewer than three races a season since 2008, Busch has been uncharacteristically missing from Victory Lane in 2012. His single win came in May at Richmond International Raceway – the final pre-Chase stop. Good news for Busch: 12 of his 24 career victories have been scored at the five remaining Race to the Chase tracks.

Johnson’s Late-Race Stumble Leaves No. 1 Seed Up For Grabs
Five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson was well on his way to the provisional No. 1 Chase seed at Pocono until spinning from the lead on a 91st lap restart. Johnson, Tony Stewart and Brad Keselowski remain deadlocked at three wins apiece – each driver counting nine bonus points to be added to a Chase base of 2,000 points should they remain among the top 10 in the standings. This week could be Stewart’s time to shine. The three-time and reigning champion is the leading winner at The Glen (five) most recently in 2009. Johnson, a road course winner at Sonoma, has yet to score at Watkins Glen while Keselowski finished second there a year ago.

Gordon’s Win Puts All Four Hendrick Drivers In Victory Lane
Hendrick Motorsports’ stock has shot to the top of the board since Johnson gave the organization its 200th victory in May at Darlington Raceway. Gordon’s Pocono victory was HMS’ seventh of the season (in the past 11 races) and third in a row. It also marked the first time that all four Hendrick drivers – currently Johnson, Gordon, Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr. – have won in same season since 2007. HMS’ drivers that year were Johnson, Gordon, Kyle Busch and Casey Mears.

Earnhardt retained the NASCAR Sprint Cup points lead despite a transmission failure that ended his lead lap finishing streak at 20 races. Eight points are the difference between first and fourth place with Earnhardt trailed by Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle and Johnson.

NASCAR Sprint Cup’s Two Road Courses Produce Differing Results
Watkins Glen International and Sonoma’s road course each has left and right-hand turns. That’s where the similarities end – especially when it comes to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™. The Sonoma winner has qualified for the Chase in every season (2004-11). This year’s winner Clint Bowyer is ranked among the top 10 and likely will make the post season roster. It’s a different story at The Glen where the last two winners – Marcos Ambrose and Juan Pablo Montoya – failed to make the Chase. Kevin Harvick, one of two drivers among the top 10 without a victory this season, could end The Glen’s short string of non-Chase winners. Harvick won at The Glen in 2006 and finished sixth a year ago.

Remaining Race To Chase Venues Test Many Skills
Variety may be the spice of life and it’s certainly the definition of tracks comprising the final five stops in the Race to the Chase. The next month’s schedule visits a road course (Watkins Glen International), a pair of superspeedways (Michigan International and Atlanta Motor Speedways) and two short tracks (Bristol Motor Speedway and Richmond International Raceway). Three of the five tracks have run events this season with Keselowski the winner at Bristol, Kyle Busch on top in Richmond and Earnhardt ending a four-year victory drought at Michigan. Clint Bowyer won the year’s only other road race in Sonoma, Calif. Busch was the last driver to sweep both road course events (2008).

- NASCAR Media Services

Jeff Gordon Jumps into Chase Hunt With Rain Shortened Pocono Win

Jeff Gordon winless streak ends at 31 races (Getty)  

USA Today

LONG POND, Pa. – The 2012 season has been about inopportune circumstances for Jeff Gordon.

That changed on a storm-plagued Sunday at Pocono Raceway. Whether it was starting 27th at the initial drop of the green flag or sixth on the last lap at full speed, the four-time champion always seemed in the right place for his 86th Sprint Cup victory.

He took advantage of Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson's misfortune to win the rain-shortened Pennsylvania 400 and moved into position for a Chase for the Sprint Cup wild card berth with his first victory of the season.

"It's nice to know that things can still go our way," Gordon said. "I hate it for (Johnson) what happened, but we haven't had a whole lot go our way this year. To have the cars in front of you all slide up the racetrack, you go by and win the race … this is a big boost for us as a team."

Johnson led a race-high 44 laps and was in first on a lap 91 restart when disaster struck for the five-time champion. Entering Turn 1, Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet slid up the track and into Matt Kenseth's No. 17 Ford.

Kenseth spun and also collected Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle and Jeff Burton. Runner-up Kasey Kahne, third-place Martin Truex Jr., and fourth-place Brad Keselowski also tried to avoid the wreck, and Gordon's No. 24 Chevy scooted past the mess on the bottom and into the lead.

Read More Here....

RESULTS: Pennsylvania 400

Final 2012 Pennsylvania 400 Driver Ratings at Pocono

Micah Roberts’ Top 10 Driver Ratings
Pennsylvania 400
Pocono Raceway
Sunday, August 5, 2012 -  10:16 am (PDT)

Rating    Driver     Odds          Practice 1    Practice 2   Qualified    Brickyard*

 1. Jimmie Johnson 7/1              1st               10th           10th            1st 
Swept 2004 season; track best 8.8 average finish in 21 starts; chassis has recorded two wins.
 2. Kyle Busch 12/1                    2nd                4th            20th            2nd 
Career best runner-up last fall; looked to have the best car overall in Friday’s practices.
 3. Denny Hamlin 5/1                 28th              15th            2nd             6th 
Four-time winner, last coming in spring of 2010; starting on front row a huge early advantage.
 4. Greg Biffle 12/1                     5th                3rd            12th             3rd 
2010 winner; great practices coming off strong Indy run; using chassis last run at Kentucky.
 5. Mark Martin 18/1                   9th               11th           18th           11th 
NASCAR record seven-time runner-up without a win; using runner-up Pocono chassis from June.
 6. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 8/1           8th                1st              8th             4th 
Five top-5 finishes in 25 starts, three straight top-10’s; using eighth-place Pocono chassis.
 7. Kasey Kahne 10/1                 6th               25th             4th           12th 
2008 winner; good practices and start position; using winning Coca-Cola 600 chassis from Charlotte.
 8. Matt Kenseth 12/1                 4th                2nd             7th            35th  
Career best of third-place in 2003; 13.9 average finish; using seventh-place Pocono chassis.
 9. Brad Keselowski 20/1           14th             16th            31st             9th 
Won this race last season with broken ankle; using runner-up chassis from All-Star race.
10. Joey Logano 30/1                 7th               29th           14th           33rd 
Captured win in June, using same car this week; changed transmission following practice 1.

* Results from last weeks Brickyard 400. Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 2.5 mile layout with long straightaways and flat turns requires a similar set-up at Pocono.

Odds courtesy of the LVH Super Book.

Micah Roberts, a former sports book director, has been setting NASCAR lines in Las Vegas since 1995. For more Roberts insights and post-practice analysis on the race, go to VegasInsider.com or follow on Twitter: MicahRoberts7. 


Pennsylvania 400 Starting Lineup - Montoya on Pole


Betting Notes

From everything I saw in practice, Kyle Busch looks to have the best car. The only thing that keeps him from the top rating slot is that Jimmie Johnson is far too consistent -- unless at a restrictor-plate track -- and he also comes off a dominating Brickyard win. It’s very convenient for the No. 48 team to just roll off the hauler and be strong because they did it at a very similar track last week.

Kyle Busch, on the other hand, has had so many lost opportunities this season because of a multitude of errors that have riddled the team. It was just last June at Pocono when Busch started the race in the second-row and had good clean air with plenty of room to maneuver. He should have been in a great position to contend for the win, but on lap 76 of a scheduled 160 laps, the engine blew on the No. 18. End of day. Thanks for coming. Good luck next time.

That was the second week in a row Busch’s engine blew. His runner-up finish last week was his first top-5 since late May when he finished third in the Coca-Cola 600. It’s been a long time since Busch had something to smile about, but it looks as though they’ve gotten something figured out. The momentum from last week is huge and it's why I like Busch the most.

Carl Edwards ran just as well as his Roush teammates, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth, but he’s on a worse top-5 drought than Busch was. It’s been since Fontana in March that Edwards finished in the top-5. He picked up fifth-places at Las Vegas and Fontana, and hasn’t been seen there again. It just seems he’s more probable to finish 14th than crack the top-10.

Having Edwards being in the role as kamikaze pilot as he desperately tries to hunt down a win to make the Chase with only six chances remaining, he makes it very easy to bet against in driver matchups. The toughest thing about betting against Edwards in matchups is that you know he’ll bring the car back in one piece and finish with solid results despite not contending for a win. He should at least be entertaining on the track being overly aggressive.

Denny Hamlin will tough to beat since he’s starting up front and will be getting all that clean air. He may be in or near the lead for the first two pit stops, but I do think a handful of cars are better. We’ve kind of given Hamlin this mystique regarding Pocono because he’s won there four times, but really, it’s been four races and two years since his last win.

In all those races Hamlin won, he was one of the best in practice. This week, he is not. He just gets the respect because of his past and also good runs at Pocono and Indy this year. If it was based on practice alone, Hamlin would be rated far lower than third.

Two drivers that present a good opportunity this week and large adjusted odds are Joey Logano and Martin, the drivers that finished 1-2 in the June race. They didn't fare well in practice, but I think they got enough notes from the testing and practices from June as well as last week at Indy. I have more reason to believe they're closer to being similar to what they were in June as opposed to what they showed in Friday's practice.


Updated LVH Super Book Pocono Odds

PENNSYLVANIA 400
POCONO RACEWAY
SUNDAY, AUGUST 5, 2012

JIMMIE JOHNSON 7
TONY STEWART 15
MATT KENSETH 12
GREG BIFFLE 12
DENNY HAMLIN 5
KYLE BUSCH 12
KASEY KAHNE 10
JEFF GORDON 15
DALE EARNHARDT JR 8
CARL EDWARDS 12
BRAD KESELOWSKI 20
KEVIN HARVICK 25
MARK MARTIN 18
MARTIN TRUEX JR 35
CLINT BOWYER 35
RYAN NEWMAN 30
JOEY LOGANO 30
JEFF BURTON 100
JUAN MONTOYA 35
PAUL MENARD 50
JAMIE McMURRAY 100
KURT BUSCH 50
MARCOS AMBROSE 40
SAM HORNISH JR 100
ARIC ALMIROLA 200
DAVID GILLILAND 1000
REGAN SMITH 100
BOBBY LABONTE 1000
DAVID RAGAN 1000
FIELD 500

Pocono Practice Notes: Earnhardt Jr Tops The Charts Late in Final Session

Dale Earnhardt Jr signs autographs Friday morning at Pocono (Getty)

By Micah Roberts

Dale Earnhardt Jr. laid down the fastest lap during the final practice session Friday in preparation for Sunday’s Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway. Earnhardt’s fast lap of 177.441 mph came in the last moments of the 90-miunte session while in a mock-qualifying set-up.

In the final two minutes of practice, the top speed was set and topped by three different drivers in a mad frenzy to get their cars set ideally for Saturday’s qualifying. Kyle Busch had the fastest lap (176.564) for the bulk of the session, but was bested late by Greg Biffle (176.724), Matt Kenseth (176.974) and eventually Earnhardt. Busch ran only five laps in the session, all in qualifying trim.

The story of the day, other than Junior topping the charts, was the speed of all three Roush-Fenway Fords. In addition to Kenseth and Biffle finding lots of speed, Carl Edwards had the fifth fastest lap putting all the Roush drivers in the top-5 of practice for the second straight session. In the first practice session, it was Edwards, Kenseth and Biffle, 3-4-5.

The speeds have to give Edwards a little bit of confidence considering they haven’t been fast in practice too often this season. Perhaps new crew chief Chad Norris has made an immediate impact, but it looks more like being a collective Roush triumph. With no wins on the season, Edwards is outside looking in at the Chase and has six chances left to go all out for wins.

When looking at the Pocono practices from June, the Roush drivers were fast as well with Edwards topping the group with the second fastest speeds. On race day, Edwards finished 11th, Kenseth finished seventh and Biffle 24th.

Jeff Gordon is in the same desperate situation as Edwards, only a little worse. He ran the most laps of the session (30) and finished with the eighth fastest lap.

Only four drivers ran 10-consecutive laps or more led by Jimmie Johnson. Johnson, who was fastest in the earlier practice session, also had the fastest overall average speeds (15 laps run or more) while running 21 laps. He had the 10th fastest individual lap of the session.

All three Michael Waltrip cars looked strong led by Martin Truex who was seventh fastest. Mark Martin was runner-up in the June race and finished the session with the 11th-fastest lap. Martin started the session with fireworks as he lost control of his car coming off turn three and, miraculously, was able to save the car with only minimal damage to the right rear.

The winner of the June race was Joey Logano, but he had a little trouble finding speed with the 29th fastest lap. Logano is using the same chassis from the June race. He reported difficulty in shifting from third to fourth gear, so the team changed the transmission just to be safe.

Junior should be in a good situation to get his first Pocono win this week. Not only is he showing speed in practice, but he also has had excellent runs at Pocono and Indy this year, two tracks I like to group together for handicapping purposes. He finished eighth at Pocono in June and fourth at Indy last week.

Top-5 Pocono Practice 2 (Final) Speeds:
1) Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 177.441
2) Matt Kenseth 176.974
3) Greg Biffle 176.724
4) Kyle Busch 176.564
5) Carl Edwards 176.391

Pennsylvania 400 Practice 2 Speeds   

NASCAR.com Practice Chart - Average Speeds




Johnson Fastest in First Practice Session

By Micah Roberts

Jimmie Johnson swept the 2004 season at Pocono Raceway (Getty) 

Jimmie Johnson picked up right where he left off last week at Indianapolis and was fastest in Friday’s first practice session at Pocono Raceway. Johnson ran a fast lap of 174.290 mph, some 5 mph slower than the fastest times from Pocono practices in June. Johnson will attempt to get more bonus points for the Chase this week by using the same chassis he ran in June’s race. For the third consecutive Pocono race, Johnson finished fourth.

Johnson captured the fast lap of the final of his 21 laps run in the 90-minute session. Only two practices will be run on Friday with Pennsylvania 400 qualifying scheduled for Saturday.

Brad Keselowski was the only driver to run more than 10-consecutive laps while also running the most total laps (41) around the flat 2.5-mile triangular track. Keselowski, who won at Pocono last fall, had the 14th-fastest individual lap. All 41 of his laps were run exclusively in race set-up with his mock-qualifying run to come in the final practice.

Kyle Busch ran 36 laps and finished with the second fastest lap (173.994) followed by the entire Roush-Fenway brigade. Carl Edwards was third (173.967), Matt Kenseth fourth (173.950) followed by Greg Biffle (173.772).

Edwards had the fastest average speeds among drivers running at least 20 laps, the amount Edwards ran. But perhaps the best average speed was Busch’s because he ran almost twice as many laps as Edwards with similar average times.

Joey Logano won at Pocono in June and followed up his first session back on the track with the seventh fastest lap. Dale Earnhardt Jr was eighth fastest and June’s runner-up, Mark Martin, finished with the ninth best lap.

Paul Menard hit the wall near the end of practice and will have to go with his back-up car in the race.

Top-5 Pocono Practice 1 Speeds:
1) Jimmie Johnson 174.290
2) Kyle Busch 173.994
3) Carl Edwards 173.967
4) Matt Kenseth 173.950
5) Greg Biffle 173.772

Pennsylvania Practice 1 Speeds

Jimmie Johnson Friday Morning Q & A at Pocono

Jimmie Jobnson has three straight fourth-place finishes at Pocono (Getty)

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET met with media and discussed his win at the Brickyard last week, upcoming challenges of racing at The Glen, the 2013 car test at Martinsville, patience in learning various race tracks, and more.

TALK ABOUT WINNING LAST WEEK AT THE BRICKYARD AND THE FACT THAT YOU WANT TO GET SOME MORE WINS BEFORE THE CHASE
“I do. It was a great race on Sunday and there is so much pride that went along with a successful day on pit road and on the race track; we had a fast race car and what I did behind the wheel, there is a lot to be proud of last Sunday.

“I enjoyed Monday at home and then Tuesday went up for the ESPN Car Wash and had a great experience there. I’m very excited to see the progress, I feel our sport is making and NASCAR is making through the sports world and it’s most evident walking through the halls of ESPN. It was a great experience there and one in which where Rick Mears called in during the NASCAR Now spot and completely caught me off guard. I had no idea he would call in. We were live on air but I didn’t know if we were taping it or what it was. I thought it was a practical joke at first but it was just a cool, cool experience; and one I’ve savored a lot and enjoyed this week.

“But clearly we’re at another race track and once we get on track, everything changes and it’s about the present and trying to win another race here at Pocono. I’m excited. I think what we had at Indy will crossover very well here. We didn’t have that kind of speed when we were here the first time (June race) but I think we’re a little smarter. We went back to Indy and perfected things and are certainly hoping for the same thing here.”

WITH NO DISRESPECT TO YOUR TEAMMATE, AND CONSIDERING HOW THE CHASE OPERATES, WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE THE THREE WINS OR THE POINTS LEAD?
“Three wins. When I look at last year’s point’s battle with it being a tie, every point you can have in the post-season is important. There are a lot of good things to come with leading the points. I’ve always felt and have always said that the pressure that’s on the point’s leader through the end of the regular season, there’s something there that helps; has helped me in the past, and I think (helps) the team. Once the Chase starts, any type of exposure to pressure for the crew guys, the over the wall guys, and the driver is all helpful. The Chase is so important and the emotion. You might dodge it for a week or two or might get deeper into the Chase before it really hits you, but at some point it will. And the more exposure you have to that pressure, the better.”

THERE IS PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH CREDIT GIVEN TO THE DRIVERS FOR HOW GOOD THEY ARE AT WHAT THEY DO. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT FIGURING A RACE TRACK OUT AND WHAT YOU DO TO DO THAT? TALK ABOUT HOW YOU DO INDY AND DENNY HAMLIN DOES POCONO.
“There are some tracks you just come to and it clicks and I think Pocono has been that for Denny. But there are just certain tracks that click for people. Clearly the driver is on the track, but the crew chief has a set style and when the driver’s style and the crew chief’s style match on a given track, you’re fast and things work out really well. I’d say Indy, Bristol, Sonoma; those tracks were probably the most difficult tracks for me to sort out. It took years to figure out the line and the driving style needed.

“And, if you start the weekend off over-driving the car and doing the wrong things, you instantly change your path. You start adjusting the car to things that you don’t need to adjust it to. And then usually mid-race, for me, something clicks and I think oh, okay. That’s how I do it, when I’ve got my car set-up to do something else. And that just compounds it and it takes time.

“Indy took me five or six years to get it sorted out. Bristol took quite a long time and Sonoma the same. Those three tracks don’t fit my driving style but I’ve worked hard to make the right changes to myself and remind myself when I show up, how to drive that track.”

ARE YOU PATIENT ENOUGH TO WAIT FIVE YEARS TO LEARN?
“I’m probably more patient than most. I don’t feel like I have been at times and I’ve left those tracks very frustrated. But coming up through the ranks, anybody that I would speak to if they’re wearing a suit and if they’re a race car driver or whatever it was whether sponsor, owner, or driver, everyone said to have patience. And I hated to hear it. But it is very true. Patience helps in so many ways in this sport.”

DO YOU HAVE TO BE PATIENT ON PIT ROAD THIS WEEK? HOW DO YOU HANDLE COMING BACK TO A PLACE WHERE YOU WERE HIT TWICE THE LAST TIME AND THERE WAS AT LEAST SOME CONFUSION AS TO WHAT WAS GOING ON?
“Yeah, I’ll definitely be aware in that final segment leaving. I didn’t feel like I was impatient there last time. So, I’ll start more patiently (laughs). And then I feel like I can get back to where I was. But with so many people having trouble there, I’m not sure what took place. I’m sure it’s a smaller segment but we have much smaller segments at other race tracks that don’t have as much trouble as that one did (laughs). So, we’ll be patient to start.”

WHY DO YOU THINK IT MEANS SO MUCH TO DALE EARNHARDT JR. TO BE IN THE POINTS LEAD RIGHT NOW?
“It means a lot to everybody. I think that maybe his emotion coming through is what others probably should have. At this point in the season it says a lot if you’re leading the points. And I think the fashion in which he’s done it in completing all the laps is really impressive. We downplay things at times and maybe won’t give other drivers credit when they need it, but leading the points; I want to lead the points right now. I want to be in control. I think there’s a huge message sent by the points leader to the rest of the field. You need to win races I think to be well rounded and back it up and he’s won one and we’re at a track where I think he dominated the last time we were here. He has every reason to be excited.”

WHEN JUNIOR FIRST CAME TO HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SAYING IT WAS KIND OF A ONE-SIDED DEAL WHERE KYLE (BUSCH) WAS A BETTER DRIVER AND HMS GOT THE SHORT END OF THE STICK. HAS THE TIDE TURNED ON THAT NOW?
“I’m trying to go back and remember the circumstances. I think from a company’s standpoint and the strength of the company especially from a business/financial standpoint, to have the line-up of drivers we have maximizes what we can do. I mean it was good for Hendrick Motorsports to have Junior come on and we all know that he has talent and ability and can win races and championships.

“I really feel like Rick (Hendrick) deep in his heart knew that he could help Junior’s situation. I’m thinking back to difficult times at Earnhardt Inc. and the drama that was all around it and performing; just the whole situation I think was really tough. And Rick knew that he could help steer Junior in the right way and calm down his overall environment and get him on track and get him going. We’re here today and happy to see the progress. But it’s so hard to say. Kyle is an amazing talent and he’s gone over to Gibbs and has really developed their equipment and has driven Gibbs into the forefront of racing week in and week out. So, it’s hard to say that one got a better deal out of it all, but business I think was a part of it. And right now, everybody is running well so that’s good.”

YOU ARE ONE OF FOUR GUYS WHO WILL BE TESTING THE 2013 CAR AT MARTINSVILLE NEXT WEEK ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. APPARENTLY NASCAR IS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT GETTING THE WEIGHT OUT OF THE RIGHT SIDE. WHAT ARE YOU ANTICIPATING FROM THE TEST AND HOPING TO LEARN ABOUT THE NEW CAR? AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE NASCAR MIGHT BE TRYING OUT?
“No, I don’t. It’s not uncommon for me to show-up at the track and figure out what we’re doing (laughs). I knew it was a ’13 test, but outside of that I’m not really sure what’s going on. I would assume there are changes with the mechanical grip side of the race car. Clearly there’s a new body on it so that will have some aero implications; although at that track, it won’t make a difference. But I’m excited to feel the car and to drive the car. We’re deep in the year and ’13 is coming quick, so I’m happy to be a part of it and hopefully I can give some great feedback of the car to NASCAR and to my team and to Chevrolet.”

WATKINS GLEN IS COMING UP. YOU QUALIFY THERE, BUT YOU HAVEN’T FINISHED WELL THE LAST THREE YEARS. WHAT’S THE REASON? AND WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT IT?
“The thing that gets me at The Glen so much is really fuel mileage. My driving style requires us to stop usually an additional time and I don’t know how to run a fast enough pace and save fuel at the same time there. It really gets me. I think back to a Nationwide race where I was driving Junior’s car and ran out (of fuel) with a few laps to go. It just happens to me there more than really anywhere. So, I’m hopeful that the EFI and the functionality of the EFI will help me there. And we’re working hard. We tested two days ago I guess it was, getting ready for The Glen. So, we’re putting in the whole effort. Hopefully I can be nice on the fuel mileage.”

JEFF GORDON WAS JUST NAMED THE WINNER OF THE HEISMAN HUMANITARIAN AWARD. AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS DONE A LOT OF FUND-RAISING YOURSELF, HOW PROUD ARE YOU AS A TEAMMATE AND TO SEE SOMEBODY IN THE NASCAR COMMUNITY BEING RECOGNIZED FOR ALL THE GOOD HE DOES IN TERMS OF PEDIATRIC FUND-RAISING?
“I wasn’t aware of that, but I am happy to hear it and think he’s extremely deserving. The efforts that he and his office put in place to make the right decisions to raise money, his fan-base for the support, and again Jeff’s commitment. Fund-raising and charitable work is only as successful as the person who’s behind it and the name that’s behind it; and that’s Jeff. I’m very happy for him. That’s an amazing honor.”

IN LIGHT OF WHAT’S HAPPENED WITH A.J. ALLMENDINGER, HOW DIFFICULT DO YOU THINK IT’S GOING TO BE FOR HIM TO BOUNCE BACK? WHAT DO YOU THINK HIS CHANCES ARE OF DOING THAT GIVEN THE SITUATION HE’S IN?
“Yeah, it’s going to be tough. There’s no doubt about it. We don’t have anyone else to really base it off of coming back into the sport to get a feel as to the corporate involvement, team owner’s response, and how that’s going to go for him. But in the car, he was developing at a great pace and showing plenty of speed and was very competitive. So, time will tell. I think people like a comeback story and if A.J. is committed to the process and getting back, I’m sure there will be some opportunities. I don’t think it’s going to be the one that he wants to start, but over time I would assume he could get back to a good spot. Everybody makes mistakes. We learn and grow from it and move on. People are usually, or mostly, responsive to that.”

About Chevrolet:

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

- Team Chevy Press Release

JIMMIE JOHNSON CHASSIS CHOICE: Chassis No. 681 serves as the primary for Johnson at Pocono. Johnson raced this car to wins at Darlington in May and last fall at Kansas. This will be the eighth race for the chassis. It last ran at Pocono in June finishing fourth. Chassis No. 669 serves as the backup.

Denny Hamlin Pennsylvania 400 Race Preview

Denny Hamlin has four wins at Pocono raceway (Getty)

Indianapolis Recap: Denny Hamlin finished sixth in Sunday’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, starting on the pole and leading twice for 27 (of 160) laps in the #11 FedEx Express Toyota en route to his 11th top-10 finish of the 2012 season. Battling a tight condition in traffic throughout the second half of the event on the famed 2.5-mile oval, Hamlin took the checkered flag behind winner Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Greg Biffle and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hamlin took the point position from the outset, beating outside polesitter Carl Edwards to the lead on the backstretch of the opening lap, leading the race’s first 26 laps. Johnson passed Hamlin on pit road during the race’s first green flag pit stop, as the #11 team settled into second place. A restart nearing the race’s midpoint saw Hamlin take the green flag in second, but the car shot up the track in Turn 2 and Hamlin slipped in the running order back to 14th. From there, Hamlin worked with crew chief Darian Grubb on changes to help free up the car, and Hamlin drove back up into the top-10 for the final dash to the finish line. Hamlin remains fifth in the NASCAR standings following Indianapolis, 64 points behind new leader Earnhardt Jr. after 20 of 26 regular season races.

Pocono Preview: The Series heads back to Pocono (Pa.) Raceway for Sunday’s 160-lap race on the 2.5-mile ‘Tricky Triangle.’ Arguably Hamlin’s best track on the circuit, the 31-year-old driver has four wins in 13 career Pocono starts, including sweeping both races from the pole in his 2006 rookie season. His 5.8 average starting position is best among active drivers and he has a 9.7 average finish at the track, including eight top-five results. He has led more laps at the track (660) than any driver in the last six years, and has led at least 17 laps in 10 of 13 starts, including the last six-straight. In the June race at Pocono, Denny Hamlin finished fifth, overcoming early miscues to drive through the field. Hamlin restarted fourth following the 160-lap event’s final caution with nine laps remaining but was too tight to challenge eventual winner — and Joe Gibbs Racing teammate — Joey Logano.

FedEx Office – Closest to Pocono Raceway: 940 Schecter Drive, Ste 1, Wilkes Barre, PA 18702, (570) 819-0813

New York Metro Along for the Ride at Pocono: The FedEx Ground New York Metro district will be recognized for outstanding safety performance with its district code “NYME” on the b-post of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota this weekend at Pocono Raceway. The New York Metro district includes New York City, Long Island, the lower and mid-Hudson Valley, and southern Connecticut.

HAMLIN CONVERSATION — Pocono Raceway

What are the keys to getting around Pocono?
“In Pocono you have to be very disciplined as you enter turn one. They have marks on the side of the wall and you want to discipline yourself to use those marks so you don’t overdrive the corner. You try to get all the exit speed off of (turn) two as you can — you shift into fourth (gear) about 200 yards past turn two to try to get that long run right before you get to the tunnel turn. For my approach, I try to arc into the tunnel turn just as wide as I can to make sure I get that long, low line on the exit of the tunnel to make sure I get a good line into turn three. Into turn three, you’re just trying to carry all that speed you can.”

RACE INFO:
Event: Pennsylvania 400
Date/Time: Aug. 5/1 p.m. ET
2011 winner: Brad Keselowski
2011 polesitter: Joey Logano

Distance: 160 laps/400 miles
Track Length: 2.5 miles
Banking: 14/8/6 degrees
Track Shape: Triangle

- Weber Shandwick Worldwide for FedEx Racing

2012 Pennsylvania 400 Preview: Lots of Data from Indy and Pocono

All signs pointing to 4-time Pocono winner Denny Hamlin this week (Getty) 

By Micah Roberts
VegasInsider.com

Because of all the data from recent races at the similar tracks of Pocono and the Brickyard, bettors have perhaps their greatest advantage over Las Vegas sports books out of any race on the season this week at Pocono. The edge comes from utilizing all the data given to us in those two races run within the last six weeks. Because the span between those two races and this weeks race is so short, everything is relevant, current, ready to rock and reload again.

Pocono and Indianapolis are both 2.5-mile tracks with different configurations -- Pocono has three turns in a triangular shape, they both are the same in regards to required horsepower to get down the long straightaways and both require similar balance set-ups. When watching the Brickyard race Sunday, it was amazing at how telling the June Pocono race was to what was currently happening.

Every calculation came up with using Pocono as the main initial source of a Brickyard rating system came through as though the race was scripted. Even without a system, anyone could have just looked at Pocono from June and narrowed it down to three or four drivers while comfortably watching all of them run well enough to win.

The objective is obviously to narrow down a driver to win, but there’s something more interesting and fulfilling in having a few drivers selected and watching them all run well. It’s a sense of accomplishment and keeps your head up high enough to absorb losses in other weeks.

Even a driver like Joey Logano, who won at Pocono but got involved in a wreck at the Brickyard, there was something positive gained despite the poor finish because he was running in the top-10 throughout while still on the track. He was a contender who ran as expected.

Last week we had the testing, practices and race results from Pocono to go off of. This week we have all that, in addition to the two practices and race results from Indy. Nine drivers finished in the top-15 of both races. Those that did well at Pocono, did well at the Brickyard, and should run well again Sunday at Pocono.

Speed will be the name of the game again this week on the new Pocono surface where we saw all track speed records shattered in June. It will be fast again and the same cast of characters will be the ones to watch from favorites like Jimmie Johnson to Denny Hamlin. Mid-ranged price drivers like Mark Martin and Logano will be fast and live longshots like Paul Menard and Sam Hornish merit consideration.

Martin will be using the same chassis that finished runner-up in June, a race where he set a record for most runner-up finishes (7) on a track without winning a race.

“You’re not owed this stuff, man," Martin said. "I’ve earned all those second-place finishes, and I’m proud of that. You’re not entitled. You’ve got to go get ‘em.”

Johnson has won twice at Pocono, the last coming in a 2004 sweep, and has finished fourth in the past three races there. Hamlin is a four-time winner and finished fifth there in June, and sixth last week at the Brickyard where he started from the pole.

The surprise entry into the Pocono-Indy alliance category this year is Dale Earnhardt Jr, who took the points lead last week with a fourth-place finish. Junior also finished eighth at Pocono in June. He’s never won at Pocono or Indianapolis over his career, but he’s also never won a championship and now looks like he’s got the muscle to possibly take care of both this year. In you're thinking championship, the LVH has him listed at 10-to-1 odds.

Nothing is ever easy in trying to pick the winner of a NASCAR race out of 43 drivers, but it's definitely a little easier to sort through when we have a nice cheat sheet to scan at.

Top-5 Finish Prediction:
1) #11 Denny Hamlin (8/1)
2) #48 Jimmie Johnson (6/1)
3) #55 Mark Martin (18/1)
4) #20 Joey Logano (30/1)
5) #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (12/1)

2012 Pennsylvania 400 Driver Notes & Quotes

Speed was the name of the game in the June Pocono race (Getty)

KEVIN HARVICK CHASSIS CHOICE: Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 396 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Built new for competition during the 2012 season, this RCR racer was utilized by Austin Dillon earlier this season at Michigan International Speedway where he captured a 24th-place finish in his 2012 Sprint Cup Series debut.

PAUL MENARD CHASSIS CHOICE: Paul Menard will pilot Chassis No. 384 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This No. 27 Chevrolet was last seen on track at Pocono Raceway in June where Menard started from the third position and drove to a ninth-place finish. The Eau Claire, Wis., native also raced this Chevrolet at Auto Club Speedway in March, finishing 19th after starting from the 27th position in the rain-shortened Auto Club 400.

JEFF BURTON CHASSIS CHOICE: Jeff Burton will race chassis No. 385 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Burton has driven this No. 31 Chevrolet three times this season including the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May (started-22nd, finished-19th), Texas Motor Speedway in April (started-24th, finished 29th) and Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March (started-22nd, finished 14th).

KURT BUSCH CHASSIS CHOICE: This weekend’s Pennsylvania 400 will be the second race of the 2012 season for this chassis. This is the same car the No. 51 team used during last weekend’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis, where Busch was running in the top-10 prior to issues on pit road and, with engine
issues, left with a 36th-place finish. Prior to becoming part of the Phoenix Racing fleet of cars, this chassis was used by the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports team.

JIMMIE JOHNSON CHASSIS CHOICE: Chassis No. 681 serves as the primary for Johnson at Pocono. Johnson raced this car to wins at Darlington in May and last fall at Kansas. This will be the eighth race for the chassis. It last ran at Pocono in June finishing fourth. Chassis No. 669 serves as the backup.

DALE EARNHARDT JR CHASSIS CHOICE: This weekend, crew chief Steve Letarte and the No. 88 team will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-726. Earnhardt first raced this chassis to an eighth-place finish at Pocono in June.

RYAN NEWMAN CHASSIS CHOICE: After an impressive debut last weekend in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Chassis No. 39-733 will return to the track this weekend at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. Newman and his team overcame an ill-handling racecar and used quick pit work to help engineer a run into the top-10.

JAMIE McMURRAY CHASSIS CHOICE: Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion and the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Allstate team will use Chassis #1106 for Pocono. Chassis #1106 has been raced three times this season: Bristol, finishing seventh, Charlotte for the Sprint Showdown, finishing third, and earlier at Pocono, finishing 10th. This chassis was also raced six times in 2011.

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA CHASSIS CHOICE: Crew Chief Chris “Shine” Heroy and the No. 42 Target team will travel to Pocono with Chassis #1119. This chassis was used in 2011 at Charlotte, finishing 14th, andTexas finishing 18th. Chassis #1119 raced earlier this year at Fontana where it finished 17th, Texas, finishing 16th and Charlotte for the Sprint Showdown, finishing fifth.

CARL EDWARDS ON POCONO: “Since we just ran at Pocono I think we have a pretty good feel for what we were lacking there. We qualified really well and got hit in the first corner and fought back all day. I think we have a pretty good plan for Pocono. The race at Indy helped us try things we want to try for Pocono.”

EDWARDS CHASSIS CHOICE: The No. 99 team will be unloading chassis RK-815 this weekend. This car was new at Darlington where Edwards finished seventh and it also finished 11th at Pocono in June.

MATT KENSETH ON POCONO: “The track surface at Pocono was way better in June with the new surface. I thought they did a great job paving it because one of the big challenges about Pocono used to be how bumpy it was. Usually everyone is against new pavement, including myself, because you think it hurts the racing, but I thought it was better overall. I never did well there in the past, and honestly never really liked the track there before, but I feel like we ran competitive during our race there in June. I don’t remember everything that happened during the race, or what we did to finish seventh, but I am looking forward to going back and trying to improve on that finish this weekend.”

KENSETH CHASSIS CHOICE: Primary: RK-810 (last run at Pocono)

GREG BIFFLE ON POCONO: “Well, I’m definitely looking forward to Pocono this weekend for several reasons. It’s always good to go back to a track where you’ve won. Pocono is really more like a road course than a traditional oval so shifting is important to make the car perform properly and allow for better racing. It can be a difficult track because all three corners are completely different which makes handling an obstacle. We can just go there and try to run as well as we did when we won and hope for the same result.”

BIFFLE CHASSIS CHOICE: Primary: RK-803 Last ran Kentucky – finished 21st; Backup: RK-786 Last ran Homestead – finished 35th

MARTIN TRUEX JR ON POCONO: “The package we ran at Indy is something I think will work at Pocono. Since NASCAR changed the side skirt rules, we’ve struggled a little bit as a team. We were really onto some stuff at the beginning of the season that was working well for us. Then NASCAR made the rule change and we had to go back to work. The package we ran at Indy was a lot different than what we usually run. I think we made some gains at Indy. It was similar to what Mark (Martin) ran at Pocono and contended for the win. To be honest, we had a fast car at Pocono too. It was remarkable that we finished 20th with a car that had the door taken off of it on the first lap. With that said, I think a top-10 finish or even a chance at the win is a real possibility for us on Sunday.”

MARK MARTIN ON SEVEN SECOND-PLACE FINISHES AT POCONO: “You’re not owed this stuff, man. I’ve earned all those second-place finishes, and I’m proud of that. You’re not entitled. You’ve got to go get ‘em.”

MARK MARTIN CHASSIS CHOICE: Finished second at Pocono in June. Also ran at Kansas and Las Vegas. Backup – 732 has not raced in 2012.

JOEY LOGANO ON POCONO: “As everyone can imagine, I think me and all of the guys on the No. 20 Home Depot team are looking forward to going back to Pocono for obvious reasons. It’s always a pretty cool feeling going back to a track where you were the last race winner and knowing everyone wants to knock you off of that throne. That is really, really cool. I still think about Pocono. It was a great day and a big part of my career. But, in this sport, you can’t look back on things for too long, even race wins, or you will hurt your chances going forward. Yeah, we are going into the Pocono weekend looking to repeat, but we go into every weekend thinking we can win the race. You always just come to the track prepared and go from there.

“You can’t expect to just unload and be right back to where you were. There are a lot of things that go into thecar, the track conditions, the tires and your competitors. You might have the exact same set-up, with the same changes that you made during the race and you might not even be in the ballpark of where you were. The best thing you can do is just go with a better baseline and hopefully you will have less to work on to get it right. In the end, I still think we’ll have a very fast Home Depot Toyota and we’ll be one of the cars to beat. We have to go out there and get another win and keep getting points. It’s going to take at least one more win, maybe two, to get yourself into the Chase. We have to go out there and maybe even take some chances to get some wins. You’ve got to risk it to get the biscuit.”

KYLE BUSCH ON THE SHORTER DISTANCE RUN AT POCONO NOW: “I would have liked to have made the whole 400 miles the first time around there this year. But I do think the distance change was a positive one and I hope to be around at the end this time around. You know, certainly sometimes I felt like it might have been a bit long there or drawn out. Now, it might add less of a lull during the middle part of the race. So, you’ll have the beginning and people trying to make moves and get themselves in position. Then you’ll have guys working it and getting themselves in position for the final pit stop and the final run, thereafter. Hopefully, we’ll finally get that win at Pocono with our M&M’s Camry.”

BRAD KESELOWSKI CHASSIS CHOICE: The No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger team will race chassis PRS-813 during Sunday’s Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway. Keselowski last raced this chassis to a second-place finish in the NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. Since that race, the car has been updated to the current Penske Racing specification.

- FROM TEAM PRESS RELEASES, MORE TO COME

Jeff Gordon Says Key at Pocono is Starting Up Front

Jeff Gordon finished 19th at Pocono in June (Getty)

LONG POND, Pa. (July 30, 2012) - Six races remain until the “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup” field is set, and Jeff Gordon is currently outside looking in. The five-time Pocono Raceway winner knows it will take at least one win to earn a coveted “Chase” position, and track position could be the determining factor in who captures victory in Sunday’s Pennsylvania 400.

Two months ago on the newly repaved 2.5-mile track, Gordon battled back from 30th – and a lap down due to a pit road speeding penalty – to run fifth in the 160-lap event. But a late pit stop for fuel placed Gordon well down the running order, and the lost track position resulted in a 19th-place finish.

“That was a tough race, especially fighting back from a lap down and also having engine temperature issues,” said Gordon. “I remember two cars running off the track into the dirt that day and I was behind them both times which led to the high engine ‘temps.’

“But the car had good ‘speed’ all day. I’m hoping the Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet has good race pace again and that we can do a good job of maintaining track position throughout the race.

“It’s amazing the difference on restarts when running up front here versus running mid-pack where you’ll get a run on a couple cars and before you know it, you’re already three-wide with other drivers that have gotten a run on you.”

Along with five wins, Gordon has two poles, 17 top-fives and 27 top-10′s in 39 starts at the Pennsylvania track. He has led 957 laps here, tops among all drivers at “The Tricky Triangle.”

“This track – even after the repave made it smoother and faster with more grip – still has ‘old’ Pocono characteristics which I love,” said Gordon. “The shape and the banking of the turns haven’t changed.

“It still has three unique – and three very challenging – corners.”

And if he can conquer those challenges Sunday, Gordon will draw one step closer to a “Chase” berth.

- Performance PR Plus for DuPont Motorsports