Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Pocono Raceway Track Facts: 2018 Gander Outdoors 400

The possible winners for Sunday's Pocono race are ona small list.

Rank
Driver
Races
Poles
Wins
Top Fives
Top 10s
DNFs
Average Finish
Driver Rating
1
Kyle Busch
27
4
1
6
12
5
17
91.4
2
Kevin Harvick
35
0
0
11
16
3
12.7
97
3
Martin Truex Jr
25
1
2
5
10
1
14.9
86.9
4
Joey Logano
19
2
1
4
7
1
17.1
89.6
5
Kurt Busch
34
2
3
14
19
5
14.3
103.3
6
Clint Bowyer
25
0
0
2
10
0
14.9
81.4
7
Brad Keselowski
17
1
1
9
10
0
10.2
95.1
8
Kyle Larson
9
1
0
2
5
0
10.6
96.3
9
Ryan Blaney
5
1
1
1
3
0
11.6
91.1
10
Denny Hamlin
25
3
4
10
15
3
12.7
104
11
Aric Almirola
12
0
0
0
1
4
25.8
60
12
Jimmie Johnson
33
3
3
11
20
4
12
101.3
13
Chase Elliott
5
0
0
1
4
0
13
99.7
14
Erik Jones
3
0
0
1
2
0
13.3
95
15
Alex Bowman
5
0
0
0
0
0
28
52.1
16
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
11
0
0
0
0
1
22.7
60.3
* – Based on last 27 races at Pocono Raceway (2005 – 2018).


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

Avg. Running Position
Laps Led

Denny Hamlin
104.0
Chase Elliott
9.724
Denny Hamlin
688
Kurt Busch
103.3
Denny Hamlin
10.789
Kurt Busch
534
Jimmie Johnson
101.3
Erik Jones
10.848
Jimmie Johnson
465
Fastest Laps Run
% of Laps in the Top 15

Quality Passes

Denny Hamlin
458
Chase Elliott
87.0%
Jimmie Johnson
1,065
Kurt Busch
366
Erik Jones
81.3%
Ryan Newman
1,061
Kasey Kahne
317
Denny Hamlin
78.6%
Kevin Harvick
1,052
Loop Data stats are from 2005 - Present


Pocono Raceway Data
Season Race #: 21 of 36 (07-29-18)
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
Denny Hamlin........................... 104.0
Kurt Busch............................... 103.3
Jimmie Johnson........................ 101.3
Chase Elliott............................... 99.7
Kevin Harvick............................. 97.0
Kyle Larson................................ 96.3
Brad Keselowski......................... 95.1
Erik Jones.................................. 95.0
Kyle Busch................................. 91.4
Ryan Blaney............................... 91.1
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2018 races (27 total) among active drivers at Pocono Raceway.

Qualifying/Race Data
2017 pole winner:
Kyle Busch, Toyota
179.372 mph, 50.175 secs, 07-29-17

2017 race winner:
Kyle Busch, Toyota
141.080 mph, (02:50:07), 07-30-17

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 81 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Pocono Raceway, one race from 1974 through 1981, and two per year since.

Starts
·        341 drivers have competed in at least one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway; 244 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 37 starts; followed by Kevin Harvick with 35.
·        David Pearson (six starts) leads the series in average starting position at Pocono with a 4.667.
·        Denny Hamlin (25 starts) leads all active series drivers in average starting position at Pocono with a 7.320.
·        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
·        A total of 43 different drivers have won the Busch Pole Award at Pocono, led by Bill Elliott and Ken Schraderwith 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 43 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 (17), Dodge (8), Toyota (8), Pontiac (6), Buick (2), American Motors Company and Oldsmobile (each have one).  

Wins
·        A total of 37 different Monster Energy Series drivers have won at Pocono Raceway, 23 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).
·        Five active drivers have multiple wins at Pocono: Denny Hamlin (four), Jimmie Johnson (three), Kurt Busch (three), Kasey Kahne (two) and Martin Truex Jr. (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 (six), Buick (four), Mercury (two) and Oldsmobile (one).

·        14 of the 81 (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 their 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 35; followed by Jamie McMurray with 31.
·        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 35 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 and Kevin Harvick with 11 each.
·        A total of 119 different Monster Energy Series drivers have finished in the top-10 at Pocono, led by Mark Martin with 34 top-10 finishes;
·        Jimmie Johnson leads all active Monster Energy Series drivers with 20 top-10 finishes at Pocono.
·        Davey Allison (13 starts) leads the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Pocono with a 9.769.
·        Brad Keselowski (17 starts) leads all active drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Pocono with a 10.176.

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 81 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
   

Track Specific Stats
·        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 126 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.

Rank
Drivers
Led
Completed
% of Laps Led
Starts
1
Jeff Gordon
1,040
8,535
12.2%
47
2
Geoff Bodine
809
6,799
11.9%
40
3
Rusty Wallace
754
7,510
10.0%
44
4
Jimmie Johnson
740
5,624
13.2%
33
5
Denny Hamlin
688
4,115
16.7%
25

Top Five Active Pocono Lap Leaders:

Rank
Drivers
Led
Completed
% of Laps Led
Starts
1
Jimmie Johnson
740
5,624
13.2%
33
2
Denny Hamlin
688
4,115
16.7%
25
3
Kurt Busch
538
5,883
9.1%
34
4
Joey Logano
275
3,166
8.7%
19
5
Kyle Busch
273
4,295
6.4%
27



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
81
3
8
92
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

115
20
14
149
·        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
·        146 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Pennsylvania.
·        Three of the 146 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
Ryan Blaney
Martin Truex Jr
Kevin Harvick
N/A
Martin Truex Jr
Toyota
6/10/2018
Michigan
Kurt Busch
Ryan Blaney
Kevin Harvick
N/A
Clint Bowyer 
Ford
6/24/2018
Sonoma
Kyle Larson
AJ Allmendinger
Denny Hamlin
N/A
Martin Truex Jr
Toyota
7/1/2018
Chicagoland
Paul Menard
Aric Almirola
Kevin Harvick
N/A
Kyle Busch
Toyota
7/7/2018
Daytona
Chase Elliott
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
N/A
Erik Jones
Toyota
7/14/2018
Kentucky
Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr.
N/A
Martin Truex Jr.
Toyota
7/22/2018
New Hampshire
Kurt Busch
Martin Truex Jr.
Chase Elliott
N/A
Kevin Harvick
Ford
2018 Top Five Performers In Each Statistical Category
Rank
Drivers
Wins
Rank
Drivers
Runner-Ups
1
Kevin Harvick
6
1
Kyle Larson
4
2
Kyle Busch
5
Kyle Busch
4
3
Martin Truex Jr
4
3
Kevin Harvick
3
4
Clint Bowyer
2
Martin Truex Jr
3
5
Austin Dillon
1
4
Brad Keselowski
1
Joey Logano
1
Bubba Wallace
1
Erik Jones
1
Chase Elliott
1
Clint Bowyer
1
Rank
Drivers
Top Fives
Kurt Busch
1
1
Kevin Harvick
15
Ryan Blaney
1
2
Kyle Busch
14
Martin Truex Jr
14
Rank
Drivers
Top 10s
4
Clint Bowyer
6
1
Kevin Harvick
16
Denny Hamlin
6
Kyle Busch
16
Kyle Larson
6
3
Joey Logano
15
4
Martin Truex Jr
14
Rank
Drivers
Poles
5
Brad Keselowski
11
1
Martin Truex Jr
4
Kyle Larson
11
2
Kyle Busch
3
Kurt Busch
11
3
Kurt Busch
3
4
Kevin Harvick
2
Rank
Drivers
Laps Led
Ryan Blaney
2
1
Kevin Harvick
1,052
Kyle Larson
2
2
Kyle Busch
984
3
Martin Truex Jr
647
4
Ryan Blaney
464
5
Kurt Busch
423


Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series - Milestones
STARTS
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
599
1
Will become the 29th driver to make 600 or more Monster Energy Series starts.
Driver: Kasey Kahne
Has
Needs
Milestone:
524
1
Will become the 38th driver to make 525 or more Monster Energy Series starts.
Driver: Matt DiBenedetto
Has
Needs
Milestone:
124
1
Will become the 181st driver to make 125 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:
48
1
Tie Tony Stewart (49) for 13th on the all-time Monster Energy Series wins list.
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Has
Needs
Milestone:
43
1
Tie Bill Elliott (44) for 16th on the all-time MENCS 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.
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: Kevin Harvick
Has
Needs
Milestone:
53
3
Tie Buck Baker for ninth on the all-time series second-place finishes list.
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:
44
2
Tie Jimmie Johnson for 12th 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
Top 10s
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
347
2
Tie Rusty Wallace for 11th on the series all-time top-10 finishes list
Driver: Martin Truex Jr.
Has
Needs
Milestone:
174
1
Tie Greg Biffle for 42nd on the series all-time top-10 finishes list
Laps Led
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
18,678
322
To become the ninth driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 19,000 laps.
Driver: Kyle Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
15,364
636
To become the 10th driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 16,000 laps.
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Has
Needs
Milestone:
12,143
857
To become the 12th driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 13,000 laps.
Driver: Matt Kenseth
Has
Needs
Milestone:
11,751
249
To become the 16th driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 12,000 laps.
Driver: Kurt Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
9,300
700
To become the 18th driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 10,000 laps.
Driver: Denny Hamlin
Has
Needs
Milestone:
9,082
918
To become the 18th driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 10,000 laps.

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