Fast Forward ~ The Pocono 400 At Pocono Fantasy Race Picks And Preview
“The future is like a corridor into which we can see only by the light coming from behind.”
–Edward Weyer, Jr.
The Track: Pocono Raceway
Location: Long Pond, Pennsylvania
Length: 2.5 Mile Tri-oval
Banking: 14 degrees in turn 1;
8 degrees in turn 2;
6
degrees in turn 3
Pit Road Speed:55 MPH
The Race: The Pocono 400
160 Laps/ 400 Miles
Defending Champion: Jimmie Johnson, 144.202mph
Most recent winner: Kasey Kahne, 129.009
Track Record: Rusty Wallace, 144.982 MPH, July 1996
Race Record: Jimmie Johnson, 144.202mph, June 2013
Qualifying record: Jimmie Johnson, 180.654mph, August 2013
2012 Purse: $5,069,140
TV:TNT, 1:00PM EST 6/8/2014
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) Sirius XM 90; www.MRN.com
The History:
1968- Opened as a ¾ mile track.
1971-First race on the 2.5 mile track was held
8/4/1974-The first Sprint Cup Series race was held at
Pocono, won by Richard Petty
6/17/1990-Harry Gant becomes the oldest winner at 50 years,
5 months, 7 days.
2011-Track was repaved
6/10/2012-Loey Logano becomes the youngest winner at 22 years, 7 days.
The Contenders:
Top 10 driver ratings at Pocono:
#48-Jimmie Johnson.............109.3
#11-Denny
Hamlin...............109.1
#41-Kurt
Busch.................104.7
#24-Jeff
Gordon................101.1
#14-Tony
Stewart...............98.5
#99-Carl
Edwards...............97.3
#31-Ryan
Newman................96.4
#5-Kasey Kahne.................92.8
#29-Kevin
Harvick..............89.6
#20-Matt Kenseth...............89.6
The Picks:
JBF: So, last week Kevin got his first win of the season, and one of our Fan picks came through as well, so congrats to Kevin and Darrell. Here is where we are in the standings:
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
|
Mr. Pole |
2 |
43 |
521 |
564 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
|
Mr. Seven |
14 |
37 |
525 |
562 |
-2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mr. Winner |
14 |
37 |
524 |
561 |
-3 |
1 |
1 |
|
Vivian |
2 |
43 |
490 |
533 |
-31 |
2 |
2 |
|
Jim Fitzgerald |
88 |
35 |
467 |
502 |
-62 |
0 |
1 |
|
PattyKay Lilley |
24 |
29 |
461 |
490 |
-74 |
1 |
0 |
|
Nate |
20 |
42 |
447 |
489 |
-75 |
0 |
1 |
|
Darrell |
48 |
48 |
433 |
481 |
-83 |
2 |
2 |
|
Kevin Abraham |
48 |
48 |
417 |
465 |
-99 |
1 |
2 |
|
Brian Marchetti |
24 |
29 |
435 |
464 |
-100 |
0 |
1 |
|
Barbara |
20 |
42 |
414 |
456 |
-108 |
1 |
2 |
|
Alabama Fitz |
18 |
3 |
426 |
429 |
-135 |
1 |
3 |
|
If Playoff Started Today |
|
|||||||
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
Chase Pts |
Mr. Pole |
2 |
43 |
521 |
564 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
2009 |
Vivian |
2 |
43 |
490 |
533 |
-31 |
2 |
2 |
2006 |
Darrell |
48 |
48 |
433 |
481 |
-83 |
2 |
2 |
2006 |
Mr. Winner |
14 |
37 |
524 |
561 |
-3 |
1 |
1 |
2003 |
PattyKay Lilley |
24 |
29 |
461 |
490 |
-74 |
1 |
0 |
2003 |
Kevin Abraham |
48 |
48 |
417 |
465 |
-99 |
1 |
2 |
2003 |
Barbara |
20 |
42 |
414 |
456 |
-108 |
1 |
2 |
2003 |
Alabama Fitz |
18 |
3 |
426 |
429 |
-135 |
1 |
3 |
2003 |
Mr. Seven |
14 |
37 |
525 |
562 |
-2 |
0 |
0 |
2000 |
Jim Fitzgerald |
88 |
35 |
467 |
502 |
-62 |
0 |
1 |
2000 |
Nate |
20 |
42 |
447 |
489 |
-75 |
0 |
1 |
2000 |
Brian Marchetti |
24 |
29 |
435 |
464 |
-100 |
0 |
1 |
2000 |
KEVIN ABRAHAM: Boom. Win. It’s about time I added a W to the column. Looking at Pocono I see three that stand out from the others in Hamlin, Gordon and Edwards. I need to do more research before I commit to a driver this week.
ALABAMA FITZ: Congrats on the win, Kev…here’s to many more. As for Pocono, I could put my money where my mouth is and pick Danica Patrick....
KEVIN ABRAHAM: You could or you could wake up and realize this weekend is not Daytona and pick a different driver…thanks for the kind words, by the way. It was too hard to ignore the no. 48 last week. I am still not sure about this weekend but Johnson is in my top 4. I’m still researching for this weekend. Anyone else have any thoughts? I know it's early and most have not had their Maxwell House/ Starbucks coffee yet.
ALABAMA FITZ: As for me and my house, we drink Folgers, former sponsor of Mark Martin. I used to drink Stroh's light also, but that was worse than Iron City and Genesee Ale. I was very thankful when Rusty went from Kodiak to Miller Genuine Draft.
JIM FITZGERALD: That always gave me headaches.
KEVIN ABRAHAM: I am not a big fan of Folgers coffee. I’ve never tried any alcohol so I will take your word on that.
PATTYKAY LILLEY: What's all the talk about coffee and alcohol? I used to drink Folgers... when I was a kid. Want some really good coffee? Go to Amazon.com and order some from Barrie House... "World's Finest Coffee” and it is! I spoil myself with the flavored ones; they taste great and fool you into thinking you're tasting sugar, but you're not. Everything is good, but my preference is Jamaican Me Crazy. I promise, you will love and adore that coffee. Oh, and did I mention that they ship free from Amazon? Now then... Pocono! Love Pocono! Always loved Pocono, but we won't go through all that again, as I just wrote an article about it on Friday past. There are two drivers I automatically want to go with every time we come to the Triangle... Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin. Sadly, Denny is not Denny these days, and his rule of the flat tracks has ended in a tail-dragging disappointment. As for Jeff, I'm not speaking to him after Dover. He ran top-five all afternoon, and it was only a matter of time before he took the lead and ran away from them... right? WRONG! After the final pit stop and new tires, he made his way unerringly to the back of the pack, finishing 15th of the 16 drivers on the lead lap. Jeff, don't look now, but your age is showing. So... with those too eliminated from the possibilities, the choice is narrowed to either Jimmie Johnson or Ryan Newman. Really? This is a choice? Gotta do it sometime. Should have done it last week, but I'm only one week late. Riding with the Mo, I'll be sitting shotgun in the #48 at Pocono with Jimmie Johnson at the wheel. Jim, THAT's who you want at the wheel if you want to go really fast.
JIM FITZGERALD: Ah, Mama is referring to the Pace Car ride I took at Dover when Brett Bodine brought me within inches of the wall at 120 miles per hours. I think he gets a secret thrill from trying to make people pee on themselves. Well, folks, since coming off of the Championship last season, I have been going with my gut feeling. So far this season, though, by gut feeling has only been indigestion. It's go time...I need a win, and I'm taking Jimmie Johnson to get me there. I asked Jimmie last week at Dover if records still meant anything to him, and he said they absolutely do. Let's think about records. No one in the Modern Era or Chase Era has won 5 consecutive races. There have been a few with four, including Harry Gant, Mark Martin, and Bill Elliott. How do you win five in a row? First you have to win one, and then two in a row. Johnson's done that already. Chad Knaus said Jimmie would like his Pocono car better than he liked the Dover car. Yeah...Jimmie's winning this week, and so am I.
ALABAMA FITZ: Jim, I'm not sure Johnson can pull off three in a row, even here. He has some excellent numbers, but things happen. As good as JJ is here, I'm thinking someone else will win here, probably someone who already has a win this year.
KEVIN ABRAHAM: I am seeing a lot of picks for Jimmie Johnson
winning three in a row. I honestly do not see it. Maybe I should not bite the
hand that got me my win. Looking at the
top 5 driver numbers they are:
#48-Jimmie Johnson.............109.3
#11-Denny
Hamlin...............109.1
#41-Kurt
Busch.................104.7
#24-Jeff
Gordon................101.1
#14-Tony
Stewart...............98.5
Out of these five drivers the only ones performing decently this year are Johnson and Gordon. Hamlin is a shadow of his former self, Busch has motors blow faster than his temper, and Stewart seems to not be 100%, and I still look for Mark Martin to fill in for Stewart once Stewart is eliminated from the Chase. This leaves Gordon and Johnson. Combined they have won the last three Sprint Cup races, so it's hard to pick between the two. PattyKay is disappointed with Jeff Gordon, so she chose Johnson this week. I say all of this to tell you I am taking Joey Logano to win Sunday. He has won here in the past and has to be one of the most improved drivers in the last eighteen months. Look for the Shell/Pennzoil in Victory Lane.
JIM FITZGERALD: I don’t think that’s a bad pick at all. I thought you might go with Double K though.
BRIAN MARCHETTI: So, here are my thoughts.....I'm all but in the basement, and still likely thinking in Yahoo Fantasy mode, trying to mix up my picks, and none of this has been working for me. Seems like the majority have gone with Johnson, and I don't blame them. Mama is right, Jeff fell off last week, and hurt us both. Last night before bed, I ate a giant handful of M&Ms, not because I'm crazy enough to pick Kyle on this track, but because my lady brought a huge bag to bed with her, and well, they were just there! I'm not a Pepsi fan anymore....lived on Diet Pepsi for years, until Coca Cola came out with Coke Zero. If Coke Zero wants to sponsor a car, even if Morgan Shepard is driving it, I'll be on that band wagon until the end of time. I've found myself shopping more at Lowes, and less at Home Depot in recent months.....don't even know why. All of this, and a dollar, will get me a cup of coffee, and something new to discuss with Mama. So, for this week, Jeff Gordon bounces back, and shows that he still has what it takes.
ALABAMA FITZ: Go with the Mo....how does one ignore Johnson here...or anywhere for that matter ? After watching Dover and Clint Bowyer, I swear that guy has learned a couple of Earnhardt's tricks. He clips Kyle in the left front with his right rear and Kyle slams the wall. Bowyer continues on. In so many other races I've seen, a hit like that usually sends both cars spinning, but for some reason, Clint just boogies on down the track. I think I know the reason. He is getting his racing moves down, so watch out for him...and he did finish third. Like DW said, even though the spotter cleared him, the driver should always be looking, looking, looking. I think he was looking and I think he knew exactly where he was. As an old song (Johnny Cash, I think) goes, ".....it would take a pure fool to turn the other cheek, but that's what he did, the Reverend Mr. Black." Last week, I chose Kyle instead of JJ and got smacked in the face. Well, like the Reverend Mr. Black, I'm turning the other cheek and again not picking Johnson. Based largely on what I saw last week, and heard during post-race interviews, I'm picking someone else, and it's not the defending Champion of the Pocono fall race, Kasey Kahne. A little better performance this year, and I would have thought longer on him. I even thought about staying with Kyle for one more shot until I remembered the post-race interviews. So, I'm going with someone who doesn't normally do well here, but has done pretty well all year so far and could break through at any track, including Pocono. Put me down for the # 20 of Matt Kenseth. I know, I know, it doesn't make any logical sense, but then again, when I pick a strong contender, I lose out, as in Johnson earlier this year, Keselowski, and Kyle Busch just last week. This week I'm trying to turn that around. If Jim has been running on gut feeling so far, and he's ready to get down to business, I have a feeling I will be sinking further down into the basement, and the rest of you could be in trouble. Sound like a race driver we know? This could be the start of something big.
JIM FITZGERALD: Please…like I have any finger on the winning pulse this year, but you know who does? Our fans! Let’s see if they can follow up on Darrell’s win with another. Nate, hit me like always, short and to the point.
Nate: I think I'm going with Denny Hamlin for Pocono. He's got good history there.
Vivian: The only consistency I can see in the Pocono winners is that the majority of them are driving Chevrolets. That being the case, I am going with Kevin Harvick this Sunday as he is going to be "Freaky Fast" again!
Barbara: Well, I knew any choice besides JJ at Dover was a stretch - but, at least it’s not a DNF! Onward to next week. I give - put me down for Johnson.
Darrell: And you can put me in for Hamlin. It’s Denny time!
JIM FITZGERALD: Well, there you have it. Our picks, some track information, and the top contenders. We hope this helps you with your fantasy picks, and we’ll be back next week to see how we all did when we look ahead to Michigan. Until then, enjoy Pocono and keep the shiny side up!
Our Picks For This Week!
Kevin Abraham |
Alabama Fitz |
Jim Fitzgerald |
PattyKay Lilley |
Brian Marchetti |
Darrell |
Nate |
Who is YOUR pick to win this week?
Correctly choose the winner before the green flag drops on Sunday, and you'll be entered into a drawing to win some racing stuff!