Only 13 races left before the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Playoffs, so expect the events to get more intense moving forward. This weekend, the series heads to Pocono Mountains for the 2019 Pocono 400. Below is a breakdown of some of the drivers who have an intriguing narrative heading into the race in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.
Busch was unable to secure his fourth win of the season in Charlotte last week, but he did get plenty of points for a thicker cushion between him at the top of the NASCAR Cup standings and the rest of the field by placing third. He also placed third at the All-Star Race the week prior, and will now head to Pocono Raceway with 529 points. Hopes of Busch netting his fourth win of the season at the track is fairly high, as the Team Joe Gibbs driver has won two of his last three races there, including last year’s Ganders Outdoors 400. Since 2017, Busch has two wins and four top 10s in four races at the Pocono Raceway with an average finish of 3.50.
Martin Truex Jr.
Truex has warmed up just in time for his attempt to defend his Pocono 400 title he won a year ago. Truex had the rest of the competition eat his dust last week in Charlotte when he won the Coca-Cola 600. He’s definitely a driver to watch at Pocono Raceway, as he’s always put up a fantastic effort with an equally impressive results there in his career. In fact, Truex has 10 top 10s in 26 career appearances at the track, including two Pocono 400 victories in 2015 and 2018. He has three wins on the season and two in his last four races.
SLEEPERS
Ryan Blaney
Speaking of former champions, Blaney is one of them, as he finished first at the Pocono 400 back in 2017. Blaney isn’t finding much success this season, as he remains winless with just one pole to show thus far. In Charlotte last week, he started 19th and ended up just 13th, though, that’s his fourth top 17 finish in five races. Since his lone win at Pocono Raceway two years ago, Blaney has managed just one top 10 there, which was during the Pocono 400 last year.
Ryan Newman
You have to go way back to 2003 to know when was the last time Newman found success at Pocono Raceway. That’s 16 years ago to this day when Newman won his first and still only victory at the track. There was a stretch, though, from 2012 to 2014 in which Newman finished inside the top 10 in five straight Pocono Raceway appearances. Also, he finished eight in last year’s edition of the Gander Outdoors 400.
LONG SHOT
Austin Dillon
Dillon has zero wins at Pocono Raceway, but at least he hasn’t looked entirely bad in his past races there. His 17.30 career average finish isn’t that horrible. Plus, he’s finished inside the top 15 six times in 10 starts in Pocono. Not bad for a long shot.
Writer’s Prediction
Martin Truex Jr. stays hot and wins the 2019 Pocono 400.
