Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Pocono Raceway Track Facts: 2018 Pocono 400

Erik Jones had an amazing rookie season at Pocono last year.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 2018 Top 16 at Pocono Raceway
Rank
Driver
Races
Poles
Wins
Top Fives
Top 10s
DNFs
Average Finish
Driver Rating
 
 
1
Kyle Busch
26
4
1
5
11
5
17.5
90.3
 
2
Joey Logano
18
2
1
4
6
1
17.5
89.9
 
3
Kevin Harvick
34
0
0
10
15
3
13.0
95.3
 
4
Brad Keselowski
16
1
1
8
9
0
10.5
94.8
 
5
Martin Truex Jr
24
1
1
4
9
1
15.5
85.2
 
6
Kurt Busch
33
2
3
14
19
5
14.2
104.5
 
7
Denny Hamlin
24
3
4
10
15
2
11.8
105.0
 
8
Clint Bowyer
24
0
0
2
10
0
14.7
80.7
 
9
Kyle Larson
8
1
0
1
4
0
11.6
94.7
 
10
Aric Almirola
11
0
0
0
0
4
27.5
57.8
 
11
Ryan Blaney
4
0
1
1
2
0
13.0
87.8
 
12
Jimmie Johnson
32
3
3
11
19
4
12.1
101.6
 
13
Erik Jones
2
0
0
1
2
0
5.5
106.5
 
14
Alex Bowman
4
0
0
0
0
0
28.2
48.5
 
15
Chase Elliott
4
0
0
1
3
0
13.8
99.3
 
16
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
10
0
0
0
0
1
23.6
60.4
 
* – Based on last 26 races at Pocono Raceway (2005 – 2017).


Loop Data Leaders: Pocono Raceway
Monster Energy Series - Top 3 In Key Loop Data Statistics
Driver Rating

Avg. Running Position
Laps Led

Erik Jones
106.5
Erik Jones
8.312
Denny Hamlin
688
Denny Hamlin
105.5
Chase Elliott
10.072
Kurt Busch
534
Kurt Busch
104.5
Denny Hamlin
10.768
Jimmie Johnson
463
      
Fastest Laps Run
% of Laps in the Top 15

Quality Passes

Denny Hamlin
455
Erik Jones
90.6%
Ryan Newman
1,043
Kurt Busch
365
Chase Elliott
85.3%
Kevin Harvick
1,034
Kasey Kahne
317
Denny Hamlin
78.4%
Jimmie Johnson
1,012
Loop Data stats are from 2005 - Present


 
Pocono Raceway Data
Season Race #: 14 of 36 (06-03-18)
Track Size: 2.5-miles
Banking/Turn 1: 14 degrees
Banking/Turn 2: 8 degrees
Banking/Turn 3: 6 degrees
Frontstretch Length:  3,740 feet
Backstretch Length:  3,055 feet
Shortstretch Length:  1,780 feet
Race Length: 160 laps / 400 miles
Stage 1 and 2 Length: 50 Laps (each)
Final Stage: 60 Laps

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Pocono
Erik Jones................................ 106.5
Denny Hamlin........................... 105.0
Kurt Busch............................... 104.5
Jimmie Johnson........................ 101.6
Chase Elliott............................... 99.3
Kevin Harvick............................. 95.3
Brad Keselowski......................... 94.8
Kyle Larson................................ 94.7
Ryan Newman............................ 91.1
Kyle Busch................................. 90.3
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2017
races (26 total) among active drivers at Pocono Raceway.

Qualifying/Race Data
2017 pole winner:
Kyle Busch, Toyota
179.151 mph, 50.237 secs, 06-10-17

2017 race winner:
Ryan Blaney, Ford
142.292 mph, (02:48:40), 06-11-17

Track qualifying record:
Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
183.438 mph, 49.610 secs, 08-03-14

Track race record:
Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet
145.384 mph, (03:26:21), 06-12-11

At Pocono Raceway:

History
·        Opened in 1968 as a three-quarter-mile track, Pocono Raceway held the first race on the 2.5-mile track in 1971.
·        The first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race was in 1974 – won by Richard Petty, Dodge, 115.593 mph, on August 4, 1974.
·        The 2.5-mile track was repaved during the fall of 2011.
·        2012 marked the first season the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Pocono were scheduled for 400 miles.
·        Prior to 2012 all Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races were 500 miles at Pocono Raceway.
·        There have been 80 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Pocono Raceway, one race from 1974 through 1981, and two per year since.

Starts
·        338 drivers have competed in at least one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway; 243 in more than one.
·        Ricky Rudd leads the series in starts at Pocono with 55.
·        Matt Kenseth leads all active drivers in the series with 36 starts; followed by Kevin Harvick with 34.
·        David Pearson (six starts) leads the series in average starting position at Pocono with a 4.667.
·        Denny Hamlin (24 starts) leads all active series drivers in average starting position at Pocono with a 7.208.
·        A total of 33 drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series have made their series debut at Pocono Raceway, the most recent and only active driver to make his debut at Pocono is Bubba Wallace (June 11, 2017).

Poles
·        42 different drivers have won the Busch Pole Award at Pocono, led by Bill Elliott and Ken Schrader with five each.
·        Kyle Busch leads all active drivers at Pocono with four Busch poles (Spring 2010, Fall 2015, 2017 sweep).

·        Buddy Baker won the inaugural Buch Pole Award at Pocono in 1974 with a speed of 144.122 mph. 
·        Of the 42 Pocono pole winners, only six have won consecutive Busch poles: Bill Elliott (1984-85), Mark Martin (1990-91), Ken Schrader (1993 sweep), Denny Hamlin (2006 sweep), Joey Logano (fall 2011 and spring 2012) and Kyle Busch (2017 sweep).
·        Bill Elliott holds the record for most consecutive poles at Pocono with three; fall 1984 and both races in 1985.
·        Youngest Pocono pole winner: Joey Logano (08/07/2011 – 21 years, 2 months, 14 days).
·        Oldest Pocono pole winner: David Pearson (06/10/1984 – 49 years, 5 months, 19 days).
·        Three drivers have posted their first-career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch pole at Pocono Raceway: Harry Gant (1979), Casey Mears (2004) and Kyle Larson (2014). 
·        Eight different manufacturers have won a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series pole at Pocono; led by Chevrolet with 33, followed by Ford (16), Dodge (8), Toyota (8), Pontiac (6), Buick (2), American Motors Company and Oldsmobile (each have one).  

Wins
·        37 different Monster Energy Series drivers have won at Pocono Raceway, 22 drivers have multiple wins, led by Jeff Gordon with six victories (1996, 1997, 1998, 2007, 2011 and 2012).
·        Denny Hamlin leads all active series drivers in wins at Pocono with four (2006 sweep, 2009 and 2010).
·        Four active drivers have multiple wins at Pocono: Denny Hamlin (four), Jimmie Johnson (three), Kurt Busch (three) and Kasey Kahne (two).   
·        Seven drivers have posted consecutive wins at Pocono Raceway, including three consecutive by Bobby Allison (1982 sweep and Spring 1983) and Tim Richmond (1986 sweep and Spring 1987).
·        Two of the seven drivers to win consecutive races at Pocono are active: Jimmie Johnson (2004 sweep) and Denny Hamlin (2006 sweep and 2009 fall and 2010 spring races).
·        Youngest Pocono winner: Joey Logano (06/10/2012 – 22 years, 0 months, 17 days).
·        Oldest Pocono winner: Harry Gant (06/17/1990 – 50 years, 5 months, 7 days).
·        Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Pocono 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 Monster Energy Series at Pocono; led by Chevrolet with 32 victories; followed by Ford with 23, Dodge (seven), Pontiac (six), Toyota (five), Buick (four), Mercury (two) and Oldsmobile (one).
·        14 of the 80 (17.5%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from the Busch pole; the most recent was Kyle Busch last Fall (2017).
·        Two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from the first starting position due to qualifying being cancelled; Tony Stewart (2009) and the most recent was Jimmie Johnson (2013).
·        The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (16) than any other starting position at Pocono Raceway – a 20% winning percentage.    
·        The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Pocono is 29th, by Carl Edwards in the spring of 2005.
·        A total of four Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers have posted his first career win at Pocono Raceway: Ryan Blaney (06/11/2017), Chris Buescher (08/01/16), Denny Hamlin (06/11/06) and Jeremy Mayfield (06/21/98).
·        Denny Hamlin (2006) and Carl Edwards (2005) are the only two active drivers to win at Pocono in their first appearances. 
·        Kevin Harvick leads the series among active drivers with the most Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Pocono without visiting Victory Lane at 34; followed by Jamie McMurray with 30.
·        Seven drivers in series history have swept Pocono in a single season - Bobby Allison (1982), Bill Elliott(1985), Tim Richmond (1986), Bobby Labonte (1999), Jimmie Johnson (2004), Denny Hamlin (2006) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2014).


Additional Finishing Position Stats
·        A total of 34 different Monster Energy Series drivers have finished runner-up at Pocono, led by Mark Martin with seven second-place finishes;
·        Kurt Busch leads all active drivers in runner-up finishes at Pocono with five; followed by Kevin Harvick with four.
·        A total of 72 different Monster Energy Series drivers have finished in the top-five at Pocono, led by Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon with 20 each.
·        Kurt Busch leads all active Monster Energy Series drivers with 14 top fives; followed by Jimmie Johnson with 11.
·        A total of 118 different Monster Energy Series drivers have finished in the top-10 at Pocono, led by Mark Martin with 34 top-10 finishes;
·        Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch lead all active Monster Energy Series drivers with 19 top-10 finishes each.
·        Erik Jones (two starts) leads the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Pocono with a 5.5.

Track Specific Stats
·        Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono Raceway is the race on July 23, 2000 that was won by Rusty Wallace over Jeff Burton with a MOV of 0.126 second.
·        There have been three Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races resulting with NASCAR Overtime at Pocono Raceway:
Scheduled No. Of Laps
Actual No. Of Laps
NASCAR Overtime Laps
Winner
Date
200
204
4
Denny Hamlin
6/6/2010
200
203
3
Kurt Busch
7/24/2005
200
201
1
Carl Edwards
6/12/2005

·        Seven of the 80 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Pocono Raceway have been shortened due to weather conditions:
Scheduled Date
Scheduled No. Of Laps
Actual No. Of Laps
No. of Fewer Laps
Winners
7/31/2016
160
138
-22
Chris Buescher
8/5/2012
160
98
-62
Jeff Gordon
6/10/2007
200
106
-94
Jeff Gordon
7/28/2002
200
175
-25
Bill Elliott
7/21/1991
200
179
-21
Rusty Wallace
7/20/1986
200
150
-50
Tim Richmond
8/4/1974
200
192
-8
Richard Petty
   
·        Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono Raceway six times:

Date
6/6/1982
6/10/1984
6/9/2002
6/7/2009
8/3/2009
6/9/2013

·        A total of 125 different Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers have led at least one lap at Pocono; Jeff Gordon leads the series in laps led with 1,040 laps led in 46 starts. Below are the all-time top five lap leaders at Pocono Raceway.

Driver
Led
Completed
% of Laps Led
Starts
Jeff Gordon
1040
8535
12.19%
47
Geoff Bodine
809
6799
11.90%
40
Rusty Wallace
754
7510
10.04%
44
Jimmie Johnson
738
5464
13.51%
32
Denny Hamlin
688
3969
17.33%
24

Top Five Active Pocono Lap Leaders:

Drivers
Led
Completed
% of Laps Led
Starts
Jimmie Johnson
738
5464
13.5%
32
Denny Hamlin
688
3969
17.3%
24
Kurt Busch
538
5723
9.4%
33
Joey Logano
275
3006
9.1%
18
Kyle Busch
260
4135
6.3%
26


Female Competitor Stats
·        Two female drivers have competed at Pocono Raceway in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Janet Guthrie and Danica Patrick.
Driver
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Date
Danica Patrick
22
15
7/30/2017
Danica Patrick
24
16
6/11/2017
Danica Patrick
26
22
8/1/2016
Danica Patrick
33
32
6/6/2016
Danica Patrick
20
16
8/2/2015
Danica Patrick
22
37
6/7/2015
Danica Patrick
10
30
8/3/2014
Danica Patrick
16
37
6/8/2014
Danica Patrick
34
35
8/4/2013
Danica Patrick
30
29
6/9/2013
Averages
23.7
26.9
 
    
Driver
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Date
Janet Guthrie
21
28
7/27/1980
Janet Guthrie
22
31
7/30/1978
Janet Guthrie
10
11
7/31/1977
Averages
17.7
23.3
 

NASCAR in Pennsylvania
·        There have been 147 NASCAR national series races among 10 tracks in the state of Pennsylvania.
Track Name
City
Monster Energy
Xfinity
Camping World
Total Races
Pocono Raceway
Long Pond
80
2
8
90
Nazareth Speedway
Nazareth
0
17
6
23
Langhorne Speedway
Langhorne
17
0
0
17
Lincoln Speedway
New Oxford
7
0
0
7
Heidelberg Raceway
Pittsburgh
4
0
0
4
Reading Fairgrounds
Reading
2
0
0
2
Bloomsburg Fairgrounds
Bloomsburg
1
0
0
1
New Bradford Speedway
Bradford
1
0
0
1
Pine Grove Speedway
Shippenville
1
0
0
1
Williams Grove Speedway
Mechanicsburg
1
0
0
1
Totals
 
114
19
14
147
·        The first NASCAR national series race held in the state of Pennsylvania was the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event held on September 11, 1949 at Langhorne Speedway and won by Curtis Turner(Oldsmobile). 


Pennsylvania Drivers In NASCAR
·        144 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Pennsylvania.
·        Three of the 144 Pennsylvania drivers have won in NASCAR’s premiere series.
Driver
Monster Energy
Xfinity
Camping World
Totals
Dick Linder
3
0
0
3
Jimmy Spencer
2
12
1
15
Mark Donohue
1
0
0
1
Totals
6
12
1
19


Date
Track
Busch Pole
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Race Winner
OEM
2/18/2018
Daytona
Alex Bowman
Kurt Busch
Ryan Blaney
N/A
Austin Dillon
Chevrolet
2/25/2018
Atlanta
Kyle Busch
Kevin Harvick
Brad Keselowski
N/A
Kevin Harvick
Ford
3/4/2018
Las Vegas
Ryan Blaney
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
N/A
Kevin Harvick
Ford
3/11/2018
ISM
Martin Truex Jr
Kyle Busch
Kurt Busch
N/A
Kevin Harvick
Ford
3/18/2018
Auto Club
Martin Truex Jr
Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr.
N/A
Martin Truex Jr
Toyota
3/26/2018
Martinsville
None-Weather
Denny Hamlin
Ryan Blaney 
N/A
Clint Bowyer 
Ford 
4/8/2018
Texas
Kurt Busch
Kevin Harvick
Kyle Busch
N/A
Kyle Busch
Toyota
4/15/2018
Bristol
Kyle Busch
Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski
N/A
Kyle Busch
Toyota
4/21/2018
Richmond
Martin Truex Jr.
Joey Logano
Joey Logano
N/A
Kyle Busch
Toyota
4/29/2018
Talladega
Kevin Harvick
Brad Keselowski
Paul Menard
N/A
Joey Logano
Ford
5/6/2018
Dover
Kyle Larson
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
N/A
Kevin Harvick
Ford
5/12/2018
Kansas
Kevin Harvick
Ryan Blaney
Kyle Larson
N/A
Kevin Harvick
Ford
5/19/2018
All-Star Open
N/A
Alex Bowman
Daniel Suarez
N/A
AJ Allmendinger
Chevrolet
5/19/2018
All-Star Race
Matt Kenseth
Kevin Harvick
Kyle Busch
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Ford
5/27/2018
Charlotte
Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Toyota
6/3/2018
Pocono






6/10/2018
Michigan
      
6/24/2018
Sonoma






7/1/2018
Chicagoland
      
7/7/2018
Daytona






7/14/2018
Kentucky
      
7/22/2018
New Hampshire






7/29/2018
Pocono
      
8/5/2018
Watkins Glen






8/12/2018
Michigan
      
8/18/2018
Bristol






9/2/2018
Darlington
      
9/9/2018
Indianapolis






9/16/2018
Las Vegas
      
9/22/2018
Richmond






9/30/2018
Charlotte
      
10/7/2018
Dover






10/14/2018
Talladega
      
10/21/2018
Kansas






10/28/2018
Martinsville
      
11/4/2018
Texas






11/11/2018
ISM
      
11/18/2018
Homestead









Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series - Milestones
STARTS
Driver: Matt Kenseth
Has
Needs
Milestone:
652
1
Tie J.D. McDuffie for 21st on the all-time Monster Energy Series starts list.
Driver: AJ Allmendinger
Has
Needs
Milestone:
348
2
Will become the 71st driver to make 350 or more Monster Energy Series starts.
Driver: Daniel Suarez
Has
Needs
Milestone:
49
1
Will become the 287th driver to make 50 or more Monster Energy Series starts.
WINS
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
83
1
Tie Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip for fourth on the all-time series wins list.
Driver: Kyle Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
47
1
Tie Herb Thomas (48) for 14th on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins list.
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Has
Needs
Milestone:
42
1
Tie Bill Elliott (44) for 16th on the all-time MENCS wins list.
Driver: Matt Kenseth
Has
Needs
Milestone:
39
1
To tie Mark Martin for 19th on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins list.
Driver: Denny Hamlin
Has
Needs
Milestone:
31
1
To tie Dale Jarrett for 24th on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins list.
Driver: Kurt Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
29
2
Tie Denny Hamlin for 25th on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins list.
BUSCH POLES
Driver: Ryan Newman
Has
Needs
Milestone:
51
3
Tie Bill Elliott for eighth on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series poles list.
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
35
1
To tie Rusty Wallace and Rex White for 18th on the all-time series poles list.
Driver: Kyle Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
30
1
To tie Fonty Flock for 23rd on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series poles list.
Driver: Kasey Kahne
Has
Needs
Milestone:
27
2
To tie Kyle Busch and Ricky Rudd for 25th on the all-time Monster Energy Series poles list.


Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series - Milestones
Second-Place Finishes
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
46
2
Tie Lee Petty for 11th on the all-time series second-place finishes list.
Driver: Kyle Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
43
1
Tie Tony Stewart for 13th on the all-time series second-place finishes list.
Driver: Matt Kenseth
Has
Needs
Milestone:
30
1
Tie Benny Parsons for 24th on the all-time series second-place finishes list.
Top Fives
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
224
1
To become the 11th series driver all-time to post 225 or more top fives
Driver: Matt Kenseth
Has
Needs
Milestone:
181
1
Tie Terry Labonte for 18th on the series all-time top-five finishes list
Top 10s
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
346
3
Tie Rusty Wallace for 11th on the series all-time top-10 finishes list
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Has
Needs
Milestone:
317
2
Tie Cale Yarborough for 16th on the series all-time top-10 finishes list
Laps Led
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
18,663
337
To become the ninth driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 19,000 laps.
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Has
Needs
Milestone:
11,911
89
To become the 15th driver all-time in the MENCS to lead 12,000 laps.
Driver: Matt Kenseth
Has
Needs
Milestone:
11,751
249
To become the 15th driver all-time in the MENCS to lead 12,000 laps.
Driver: Martin Truex Jr.
Has
Needs
Milestone:
6,796
204
To become the 29th driver all-time in the MENCS to lead 7,000 laps.


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