Truex less likely to win at Pocono due to poor start position

Martin Truex Jr. qualified 17th at Pocono Raceway on Friday.

Here are some Pocono numbers on just how important starting up front is at Pocono Raceway. Martin Truex Jr's driver rating took a hit because of starting 17th. He should no longer be considered the favorite to win despite winning this race last season and having momentum from last weeks win.

* 15 of the 76 (19.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from the first starting position; the most recent was Jimmie Johnson (June, 2013).
* The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (15) than any other starting position at Pocono Raceway.

* 24 of the 76 (31.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from the front row: 15 from the first starting position and nine from second-place.

* 54 of the 76 (71.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Pocono have been won from a top-10 starting position.

* Five of the 76 (6.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.

* The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Pocono is 29th, by Carl Edwards in the spring of 2005.