Driver Handicaps: Pocono...
By: Jeff Wackerlin on August 4, 2011 | 2:10 P.M.
Denny Hamlin leads all drivers with a 9.2 average finish at Pocono Raceway.
Driver Averages | Driver Ratings | Past Winners | Power Rankings
To help you make your fantasy racing picks for the Good Sam RV Insurance 500 at Pocono Raceway, Motor Racing Network brings you our weekly detailed look at some of the field for the 200-lap event.
Who's HOT at Pocono
• Jeff Gordon, who leads all drivers with 957 laps led, is coming off his fifth win.
• Four-time winner Denny Hamlin leads all drivers with a 9.2 average finish.
• Two-time winner Tony Stewart has finished in the top 10 in 10 of his last 12 starts.
• Kevin Harvick is the only driver to finish in the top five in the last three races.
• Two-time winner Jimmie Johnson has finished in the top 10 in seven of his last eight starts.
• Juan Pablo Montoya has finished eighth or better in four of his last five starts.
• Kurt Busch won the pole and finished second in June for his third top 10 in the last four races.
• Mark Martin leads all drivers with 33 top-10 finishes.
Keep an Eye on at Pocono
• Greg Biffle is the defending event winner.
• Carl Edwards is a two-time Pocono winner and is heading into the weekend fresh off a contract extension.
• Brickyard 400 winner Paul Menard qualified second at Pocono in June, but finished 14th after a pit road speeding penalty.
• Kasey Kahne, who won the June Pocono race in 2008, led the most laps (48) in the Brickyard 400.
• Ryan Newman has an 10.8 average finish in five starts with Stewart-Haas at Pocono.
• Martin Truex Jr. has finished in the top 10 in his last two starts at Pocono.
• Kyle Busch, who will debut a new car this weekend, has finished third or better in two of his last three starts at Pocono.
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. is coming his second top with Hendrick Motorsports at Pocono.
• Matt Kenseth, who finished eighth at Pocono in June, has the best average finish (7.8) in the last 10 races of the season.
• Clint Bowyer is tied for the fourth best average finish (10.2) in the last six races at Pocono.
• Brian Vickers has four top fives at Pocono, including two runner-up finishes.
Pocono Qualifying Facts
*Active Pole Leaders Best Starting Average Races Won from Starting Pos.
1. Mark Martin - 3 1. Denny Hamlin - 5.9 Pole - 13 times
2. Six drivers with two 2. Jimmie Johnson - 8.1 Top Five - 42 times
3. Mark Martin - 8.9 Top 10 - 47 times
4. Ryan Newman - 9.3 Top 15 - 59 times
5. Kasey Kahne - 9.4 Worst - 29th, One Time
Past Pole Winners Starting Pos. of Winners
* - Must be entered in the Good Sam RV Insurance 500.
*Best Average Finish at Pocono
Last # of Races Driver Avg. Fin.
Two Races Jeff Gordon 3.5
Four Races Kevin Harvick 6.2
Six Races Tony Stewart 6.5
Eight Races Jimmie Johnson 6.6
10 Races Jeff Gordon 8.3
* - The best average finish is based off a driver who has competed in every race during that time span.
Pocono Loop Data Stat Leaders (2005-2011)
*Fastest Early in a Run *Fastest Late in a Run Avg. Running Position
1. Denny Hamlin 1. Denny Hamlin 1. Denny Hamlin - 8.6
2. Jimmie Johnson 2. Kurt Busch 2. Jeff Gordon - 9.8
3. Kurt Busch 3. Jimmie Johnson 3. Jimmie Johnson - 10.0
4. Jeff Gordon 4. Mark Martin 4. Kurt Busch - 11.1
5. Mark Martin 5. Tony Stewart 5. Tony Stewart - 11.4
Laps in Top 15 *Quality Passes *Driver Rating
1. Jimmie Johnson - 2000 1. Ryan Newman - 578 1. Denny Hamlin - 118.6
2. Jeff Gordon - 1931 2. Jimmie Johnson - 566 2. Jimmie Johnson - 106.4
3. Tony Stewart - 1915 3. Jeff Gordon - 563 3. Kurt Busch - 104.1
4. Ryan Newman - 1852 4. Tony Stewart - 562 4. Jeff Gordon - 101.3
5. Kurt Busch - 1838 5. Kevin Harvick - 560 5. Tony Stewart - 100.7
*Fastest Early In a Run: Ranks each driver during the first 25 percent of laps run since a pit stop.
*Fastest Late In a Run: Ranks each driver during last 25 percent of laps run since a pit stop.
*Quality Passes: Passing a car running in the Top 15 while under a green flag.
*Driver Rating: Formula combining the following categories: Wins, Finishes, Top-15 Finishes, Average Running Position While on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
For a look at all the pre-race Loop Data for Pocono view the Good Sam RV Insurance 500 pre-race ebook.
Season Loop Data Leaders
*Fastest Early in a Run *Fastest Late in a Run Avg. Running Position
1. Kyle Busch 1. Jimmie Johnson 1. Kyle Busch - 10.5
2. Carl Edwards 2. Carl Edwards 2. Kurt Busch - 11.8
3. Kurt Busch 3. Kyle Busch 3. Carl Edwards - 12.5
4. Jimmie Johnson 4. Matt Kenseth 4. Jimmie Johnson - 13.2
5. Kasey Kahne 5. Kevin Harvick 5. Ryan Newman - 13.6
Laps in Top 15 *Quality Passes *Driver Rating
1. Kyle Busch - 4611 1. Paul Menard - 1397 1. Kyle Busch - 107.5
2. Carl Edwards - 4292 2. Kyle Busch - 1344 2. Carl Edwards - 99.8
3. Jimmie Johnson - 3918 3. Kurt Busch - 1344 3. Kurt Busch - 98.2
4. Kevin Harvick - 3718 4. Clint Bowyer - 1262 4. Jimmie Johnson - 96.5
5. Denny Hamlin - 3649 5. Joey Logano - 1200 5. Matt Kenseth - 94.8
*Fastest Early In a Run: Ranks each driver during the first 25 percent of laps run since a pit stop.
*Fastest Late In a Run: Ranks each driver during last 25 percent of laps run since a pit stop.
*Quality Passes: Passing a car running in the Top 15 while under a green flag.
*Driver Rating: Formula combining the following categories: Wins, Finishes, Top-15 Finishes, Average Running Position While on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
MotorRacingNetwork.com Staff Picks
Jeff Wackerlin: Tony Stewart
Pete Pistone: Denny Hamlin
Craig Moore: Kasey Kahne
Steve Blevins: Kevin Harvick
John Singler: Jeff Gordon
Ricky Hamber: Kurt Busch
Top 20 Driver Notes - Ordered by current standings
(All stats/notes are in regards to Pocono unless noted)
1. Carl Edwards: Finished 37th in June after a broken valve knocked him out of contention while running third; Third-place finish in this event last year is sixth top 10 in 13 starts; Won this event in 2008; Fifth-best average finish (10.7) in the seven races with the COT; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 732) that he raced at Pocono Raceway in June and won with at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March.
2. Jimmie Johnson: Has finished 10th or better in seven of the last eight races; Swept both races in 2004; Second in laps led (243) in the seven races with the COT; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 659) that he last finished 27th with at Michigan International Speedway in June.
3. Kevin Harvick: Has finished in the top five in last three starts; 14.0 average finish in 21 starts; Second-best average finish (9.4) in the seven races with the COT; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 318) that he last finished 11th with at Kansas Speedway.
4. Kyle Busch: Coming off third top five (third) in 13 starts; 20.7 average finish in seven starts with Joe Gibbs Racing; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 318) in the Good Sam RV Insurance 500.
5. Matt Kenseth: Coming off ninth top 10 (eighth) in 23 starts; 12.6 average finish in the seven races with the COT; Best average finish (7.8) in the last 10 races of the season; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 763) that he finished sixth with at Kansas Speedway.
6. Kurt Busch: Won the pole, led 37 laps and finished second in June; Finish was seventh top 10 in 11 starts with Penske Racing; Won the second race in 2005 and 2007; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 758) in the Good Sam RV Insurance 500.
7. Jeff Gordon: Coming off fifth win in 37 starts; Win was 26th top 10; has led 39 laps in each of the last two races; Fourth-best average finish (10.7) in the seven races with the COT; Leads all drivers with 957 laps led.
8. Ryan Newman: Coming off eighth top 10 in 19 starts; 10.8 average finish in five starts with Stewart-Haas Racing; Won this event in 2003 with Penske Racing; Tied for the sixth-best average finish (12.3) in the seven races with the COT; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 609) that he posted three top 10s with this season with the most recent coming at Kentucky Speedway in fourth.
9. Tony Stewart: Two-time winner; 7.4 average finish in five starts with Stewart-Haas; Posted 14 top 10s in previous 20 starts with Joe Gibbs Racing; Finished 21st in June after losing third gear while running in the top five; Third-best average finish (10.6) in the seven races with the COT; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 640) that he raced at Pocono Raceway earlier this summer.
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr: 17.6 average finish in seven starts with Hendrick Motorsports; Coming off second top 10 with HMS in sixth; Posted five top 10s in previous 16 starts with Dale Earnhardt, Inc; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 668) that he finished 21st with at Michigan International Speedway in June.
11. Denny Hamlin: Finished 19th in June after a flat tire late in the race; Finish snapped streak of three consecutive top fives, which included two wins; Leads all drivers with 291 laps led in the seven races with the COT.
12. Clint Bowyer: Has finished 16th or better in the last six races; Five top 10s in 11 starts; Finished 15th in this event last year; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 333) that he last finished 16th with at Pocono Raceway in June.
13. Greg Biffle: Defending race winner; Win was third top 10 in 17 starts; Finished 27th in June after spinning out in Turn 3 late in the race.
14. Paul Menard: Qualified second in June, but finished 14th after a pit road speeding penalty; Scored best finish in nine starts last year in this event in 13th; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 347) that he finished 14th with at Pocono Raceway in June.
15. Kasey Kahne: Finished 12th in June in first track start with Team Red Bull; Won the 2008 June race; 16.3 average finish in 15 starts; Tied for the sixth-best average finish (12.3) in the seven races with the COT.
16. David Ragan: Only top 10 (fifth) in nine starts came in this event in 2008; 19.1 average finish in the seven races with the COT; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 759) that he finished 17th with at Pocono Raceway in June.
17. AJ Allmendinger: Only top 10 came in the 2010 June race in 10th; Has yet to lead a lap in eight starts; 22.0 average finish; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 729) that he finished 25th with at Pocono Raceway in June.
18. Mark Martin: Leads all drivers in top fives (19) and top 10s (33); 16.0 average finish in five starts with Hendrick Motorsports; 14.0 average finish in the seven races with the COT; Fourth in laps led with 444.
19. Joey Logano: Coming off best finish in five starts in 11th; 19.8 average finish; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 319) in the Good Sam RV Insurance 500.
20. Juan Pablo Montoya: 8.2 average finish in last five starts; Finished seventh in June; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 1103) that he finished seventh with at Pocono Raceway in June.
Related Topics:
NASCAR Sprint Cup, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Greg Biffle
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