The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series marches on to the next race, this time at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania for the 2022 M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400. With that said, here are some of the favorites, sleepers, and a long shot for this upcoming event.
Currently seventh in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series standings with 594 points, Busch will be looking to make a bigger splash this week than in the several races he started in. Busch has not cracked the top 10 in five races, heading to action at Pocono Raceway. However, he remains a favorite in large part because he’s a multiple-time winner at the said track. In fact, he was four wins in 34 career appearances at Pocono Raceway, including in his last start there which was at 2021 Explore the Pocono Mountains 350.
Hamlin, who finished sixth at New Hampshire last Sunday, can’t be ignored here. Apart from having won already a couple of races in 21 starts this season, Hamlin also has a staggering total of six wins in 32 starts at Pocono Raceway, dating back to 2006. Moreover, he has 14 top 5s and 21 top 10s in 32 starts. And in his last 10 appearances there, Hamlin has made it to the top 10 a total of nine times.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver has yet to find success at Pocono Raceway, but in any case, he is definitely a driver to keep an eye on during basically any race this season. After all, he is leading everyone with 734 points, thanks to three victories, seven top 5s, and 14 top 10s to date this year. Elliott is on some kind of groove, especially of late, having finished either a winner of runner-up in each of his last four starts.
Here’s what we said about Wallace in our 2022 M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 sleepers preview:
This might be the perfect timing to lay a bet on Wallace. He is coming off his best finish to date this season with a third-place showing at New Hampshire last Sunday plus the last time he started at Pocono Raceway, Wallace finished fifth – his highest finish there in nine starts overall. This season, he has three top 10s and a couple of top 5s.
Here’s what we said about Suarez in our 2022 M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 sleepers preview:
In 10 career starts at Pocono Raceway, Suarez has come up empty-handed. Well, not really. While he has not won there yet, Suarez has a top 5 and a trio of top 10s to show for his appearances in the Long Pond track. He is also getting hot of late, with three consecutive top 10s heading to this weekend’s race. Suarez finished fifth at Road America, sixth at Atlanta, and ninth at New Hampshire. Expanding to his last five starts, Suarez has cracked the top 15 in all races in that span, including a win at Sonoma on June 12.
YEley has races a total of 21 times at Pocono Raceway so far in his career but has zero wins there and a career average finish of 32.1 in those starts.
Writer’s Prediction
Denny Hamlin wins the 2022 M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400.
