It’s time once more for the Tricky Triangle otherwise known as Pocono Raceway. The Cup cars hit this track six weeks ago for the first time this year and in some respects, it was a standard Pocono Raceway and in others, all heck broke loose as engines failed, drivers wrecked, tires blew, and pit road penalties were handed out. This week it will be the same track, with a tweak. They are putting PJ1, traction compound, on the track for the first time in its history as they try and make the action on the track more than just the shuffling on restarts.

For those that don’t remember, Pocono has three turns that are all banked differently and have different radii as well. The first turn is tilted at 14 degrees and the middle of the three in tightness. The Tunnel Turn, turn two, is banked at eight degrees and is the sharpest corner, while Turn 3 is banked at just six degrees but is the widest corner on the track. The PJ1 will be put on the outer grooves of the corners so that the turns won’t just be single-file areas and should induce more passing throughout the race.

Starting Positions of Winners

Starting Pos.Races WonStarting Pos.Races Won
116122
210134
310142
49152
54162
62182
72222
83231
92272
101281
113291

There have been 16 winners from the pole position here and overall 59-percent of winners have started in the top-five starting spots in the grid. In the June race here, Kyle Busch started P2 and wound up winning and he’s also the last one to win from the top starting spot back in 2017.

Track Data

Drivers To Watch This Week

Last Five Gander RV 400s

  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520
Kyle Busch510.612.414.8-4.222333
Chris Buescher319.326.322-2.711111
Kevin Harvick51213.610.81.204444
Brad Keselowski56.81314-7.203333
Denny Hamlin56.88.810.4-3.601444
Clint Bowyer519.814.4118.801344
Daniel Suarez24.584.5001222
Erik Jones2686.5-0.501222
Martin Truex Jr58.61621.4-12.801123
Alex Bowman324.721.319.7501111
Joey Logano51111.422.6-11.601112
Ryan Newman513.814.8130.800244
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520
Kurt Busch5101616.4-6.400244
Chase Elliott3910.316.7-7.700222
Kyle Larson517.413170.400133
William Byron1381463200111
Jimmie Johnson519.819.422.6-2.800113
Austin Dillon51814.815300044
Ryan Blaney318.71717.7100022
Paul Menard522.623.623.8-1.200012
Landon Cassill529.63029.6000011
Michael McDowell319.723.7190.700002
Ty Dillon222.52520.5200001
David Ragan52923.621.87.200003
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520
Ricky Stenhouse Jr521.824.223-1.200003
Matt DiBenedetto429.331.330.3-100000
Aric Almirola52726.631-400001
Corey LaJoie227.53032-4.500000
Bubba Wallace1392633600000
Reed Sorenson435.335.533.3200000
Ross Chastain1223635-1300000
BJ McLeod1263840-1400000
Ryan Preece0000000000
Austin Theriault0000000000
Daniel Hemric0000000000
Josh Bilicki0000000000
Matt Tifft0000000000
Quin Houff0000000000

  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. DriverLaps
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRatingComp.
Kyle Busch514629.210120.251%85.2644
Chris Buescher312420.70%49.2420
Kevin Harvick5459801697%110.4642
Brad Keselowski5183.6346.873%89.9738
Denny Hamlin5255265.283%104781
Clint Bowyer55181.689%108782
Daniel Suarez22914.514797%125.4324
Erik Jones2157.5157.540%79.1324
Martin Truex Jr55310.6601264%84.5710
Alex Bowman30010.352%76.9477
Joey Logano516533397.821%53.7758
Ryan Newman510.210.292%95.9781
  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. DriverLaps
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRatingComp.
Kurt Busch55410.85611.279%98.7772
Chase Elliott3144.715529%75.6458
Kyle Larson5428.4173.455%78.8770
William Byron110101186%111.7164
Jimmie Johnson500112.25%61.6630
Austin Dillon55191.835%73781
Ryan Blaney30041.328%73.2460
Paul Menard500511%48.1745
Landon Cassill50010.29%52.3631
Michael McDowell3000030%72.9461
Ty Dillon200001%41.2323
David Ragan510.210.262%76.3777
  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. DriverLaps
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRatingComp.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr5112.281.631%65.3648
Matt DiBenedetto400000%39.1462
Aric Almirola510.210.216%55.4515
Corey LaJoie200005%42.8254
Bubba Wallace100000%42.1153
Reed Sorenson400820%40.8505
Ross Chastain100000%36.1146
BJ McLeod100000077
Ryan Preece00000000
Austin Theriault00000000
Daniel Hemric00000000
Josh Bilicki00000000
Matt Tifft00000000
Quin Houff00000000

Top-20 Drivers Over Last 10 Pocono Races

  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520
Kyle Busch108.39.612.7-4.434777
Martin Truex Jr108.914.416.9-823457
Kurt Busch109.213.712.2-313589
Ryan Blaney713.114.111.71.411366
Chris Buescher722.324.120.12.211124
Kevin Harvick109.410.19.30.107888
Brad Keselowski10711.510.2-3.207778
Joey Logano101013.516.1-6.103556
Erik Jones511.29.29.61.603444
Chase Elliott712.68.910.91.702666
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520
Clint Bowyer1017.715.113.7402458
Denny Hamlin108.610.112.9-4.301688
Kyle Larson101511.713.91.101477
Daniel Suarez51012.211.2-1.201344
Jimmie Johnson1015.716.121.4-5.701336
Alex Bowman622.820.721.21.601122
Ryan Newman1014.11617.1-300267
William Byron318.312117.300223
Aric Almirola924.824.126.1-1.300224
Austin Dillon1015.418.119.3-3.900067

  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. Driver
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRating
Kyle Busch1034134.121321.383%109.4
Martin Truex Jr1018618.615115.160%93.9
Kurt Busch10868.6686.864%94.4
Ryan Blaney7213202.8666%88.5
Chris Buescher7121.7130.4311%59.2
Kevin Harvick1018218.220720.780%110.3
Brad Keselowski10434.3717.174%97.3
Joey Logano1018218.2575.761%92.2
Erik Jones535735785%102.1
Chase Elliott7679.57547.7188%103
  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. Driver
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRating
Clint Bowyer1070.7151.553%85.3
Denny Hamlin10272.7373.780%95.7
Kyle Larson10949.440479%94.1
Daniel Suarez5397.820470%87.9
Jimmie Johnson1020.2171.758%82.6
Alex Bowman60020.3337%66.4
Ryan Newman1010.120.251%75.6
William Byron33511.67134.3372%88.8
Aric Almirola910.11101.1122%59.9
Austin Dillon1010190.944%72.2

Top-20 Drivers at Similar Races (Pocono and Indianapolis)

  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520
Kyle Busch157.97.19.4-1.557121212
Martin Truex Jr1510.914.717.2-6.3246810
Brad Keselowski15911.29.5-0.519101113
Kurt Busch159.514.114-4.51371012
Ryan Newman1513.314.915.3-2.01241011
Ryan Blaney1114.414.114.9-0.511388
Chris Buescher1022.723.818.93.811246
Kevin Harvick158.79.59.1-0.408121213
Denny Hamlin159.31011.3-2.00591113
Joey Logano159.712.413.1-3.40591011
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520
Erik Jones711.110.311.6-0.504555
Jimmie Johnson1513.113.616.8-3.7035711
Kyle Larson1415.11113.61.50271010
Chase Elliott1114.413.114.8-0.402689
Clint Bowyer1517.315.315.41.9025611
Daniel Suarez712.113.411.60.501456
Alex Bowman823.324.626.5-3.201122
Paul Menard1519.321.319.6-0.3002610
Aric Almirola1424.923.124.10.800236
William Byron419.312.5136.300224

  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. Driver
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRating
Kyle Busch1562341.537525.088%118.1
Martin Truex Jr1519412.918512.360%92.5
Brad Keselowski151127.5895.975%98.1
Kurt Busch15755.0684.566%90.8
Ryan Newman15463.1322.155%80.1
Ryan Blaney11282.5282.563%86.1
Chris Buescher10121.240.411%61.4
Kevin Harvick1528819.226717.880%109
Denny Hamlin15865.7734.979%97
Joey Logano1520713.8704.769%93.7
  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. Driver
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRating
Erik Jones7456.4415.981%98.3
Jimmie Johnson15755543.664%88.1
Kyle Larson14997.1463.382%95.6
Chase Elliott11676.1625.670%90.6
Clint Bowyer15483.2312.151%84.8
Daniel Suarez7395.621364%84.6
Alex Bowman80020.329%57
Paul Menard1510.1100.728%67.5
Aric Almirola1400171.221%62.8
William Byron4389.5153.867%84.9

Team Averages at Pocono

 Avg.  TopTop
DriverFinishRacesWins510
Stewart-Haas Racing10.95200611
Joe Gibbs Racing11.05203814
Team Penske13.6213047
Wood Brothers Racing16.25111
Hendrick Motorsports16.420029
Richard Childress Racing17.4212001
Roush Fenway Racing18.310000

Momentum

Drivers

Driver Momentum
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTopLapsFastestLapsAvg. Driver
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520LedLapsComp.Rating
Kyle Busch376.72.34.723333213121563127.8
Joey Logano37.35.73.341233316624563118.9
Brad Keselowski38.793.75023335240563106.9
Kurt Busch316.312.36.3100123301056392.9
Daniel Suarez312.712.38.34.401233101456387.6
Ryan Blaney313.3118.74.60123332456393.8
Kevin Harvick35.3911-5.7012221531562105
Martin Truex Jr32114.715.35.70122201549487.6
Chase Elliott312.311.711.70.60112331556390.7
Erik Jones3121117.7-5.70111201455990.3
Clint Bowyer35.717.326-20.3011113942080.4
Denny Hamlin35.3108-2.700233143056395
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTopLapsFastestLapsAvg. Driver
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520LedLapsComp.Rating
Aric Almirola361012-60022382256395.6
William Byron314.714140.700123302156381
Alex Bowman319.313.715.340012201256379.9
Ryan Newman314.719.715.3-0.6001120156264.2
Austin Dillon37.719.724.3-16.6001117543064
Kyle Larson314.71117.3-2.600022352456287.7
Daniel Hemric31719.319.3-2.3000223655570.8
Chris Buescher32317.715.37.7000130656368
Paul Menard31515.717-2000130956372.4
Jimmie Johnson312.71517-4.3000130656374
Ricky Stenhouse Jr313.320.321.7-8.4000121154959.3
Matt DiBenedetto3252218.76.3000020056354.5
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTopLapsFastestLapsAvg. Driver
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520LedLapsComp.Rating
Ryan Preece327.723.723.74000000056151.9
Michael McDowell326.723.723.73000010456050.6
Bayley Currey13428259000000015937.5
Ty Dillon32226.725.3-3.3000000155847.2
Ross Chastain231.528.5265.5000000135440.1
Bubba Wallace32724.326.30.7000000055550.4
Matt Tifft329.32727.71.6000000352842.4
Landon Cassill331.330.729.71.6000000155035.6
David Ragan323.326.329.7-6.4000000454943.3
Corey LaJoie331.729.7301.7000000046437.8
Quin Houff235.53330.55000000235528.7
Reed Sorenson23532.5314000000234931.4
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTopLapsFastestLapsAvg. Driver
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520LedLapsComp.Rating
Cody Ware13433322000000019233.3
Garrett Smithley236.534.5333.5000000038827.7
Josh Bilicki13434331000000019727.7
JJ Yeley13735343000000011028.2
Joey Gase13836353000000018825.5
Kyle Weatherman1333536-300000006926.7
BJ McLeod1363837-1000000017224.7

Teams

Team Momentum
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTopLapsFastest
Team#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520LedLaps
Joe Gibbs Racing1211.310.610.80.5258910227180
Team Penske99.88.65.24.51589922188
Stewart-Haas Racing127.412.214.3-6.9037893676
Hendrick Motorsports1214.813.614.50.30137113354
Chip Ganassi Racing615.511.711.83.7012553534
Roush Fenway Racing6142018.5-4.50012412
Richard Childress Racing612.419.521.8-9.5001331011
JTG Daugherty Racing625.420.719.55.90001306
Front Row Motorsports926.425.727-0.600001011

Price Changes at Pocono

DraftKings

 JuneJulyPrice
DriverPoconoPoconoChange
Kyle Busch$11,400$12,300$900
Kevin Harvick$10,500$11,700$1,200
Brad Keselowski$10,200$11,100$900
Martin Truex Jr$10,900$10,500-$400
Denny Hamlin$9,300$10,200$900
Joey Logano$9,500$9,800$300
Chase Elliott$9,900$9,500-$400
Alex Bowman$8,500$9,300$800
Ryan Blaney$8,900$9,100$200
Clint Bowyer$9,100$8,900-$200
Kurt Busch$8,800$8,700-$100
Kyle Larson$9,700$8,500-$1,200
 JuneJulyPrice
DriverPoconoPoconoChange
Erik Jones$8,600$8,300-$300
Aric Almirola$8,100$8,100$0
Ryan Newman$7,400$8,000$600
Daniel Suarez$7,900$7,800-$100
Jimmie Johnson$8,300$7,600-$700
Chris Buescher$7,300$7,400$100
Austin Dillon$7,700$7,300-$400
William Byron$7,600$7,100-$500
Ricky Stenhouse Jr$7,000$7,000$0
Paul Menard$7,100$6,800-$300
Ryan Preece$6,500$6,600$100
Matt DiBenedetto$6,900$6,400-$500
 JuneJulyPrice
DriverPoconoPoconoChange
Daniel Hemric$5,800$6,300$500
Bubba Wallace$5,900$6,200$300
Ty Dillon$6,700$6,000-$700
Matt Tifft$5,300$5,800$500
Michael McDowell$6,300$5,700-$600
Ross Chastain$5,600$5,500-$100
Corey LaJoie$5,400$5,400$0
David Ragan$6,100$5,300-$800
Landon Cassill$5,200$5,200$0
Reed Sorenson$5,100$5,100$0
Quin Houff$5,000$5,000$0

FanDuel

 JuneJulyPrice
DriverPoconoPoconoChange
Kyle Busch$15,500$15,000-$500
Martin Truex Jr$14,000$14,000$0
Kevin Harvick$14,500$13,500-$1,000
Brad Keselowski$13,500$13,000-$500
Joey Logano$12,500$12,500$0
Denny Hamlin$13,000$12,000-$1,000
Kurt Busch$11,500$11,500$0
Chase Elliott$12,000$11,000-$1,000
Ryan Blaney$10,500$10,700$200
Kyle Larson$11,000$10,500-$500
Alex Bowman$10,000$10,000$0
Clint Bowyer$10,700$9,700-$1,000
 JuneJulyPrice
DriverPoconoPoconoChange
Erik Jones$10,200$9,400-$800
Aric Almirola$9,400$9,100-$300
William Byron$8,300$8,800$500
Jimmie Johnson$9,800$8,400-$1,400
Daniel Suarez$9,200$8,200-$1,000
Ryan Newman$7,700$8,000$300
Ricky Stenhouse Jr$8,100$7,700-$400
Chris Buescher$7,000$7,300$300
Austin Dillon$8,500$7,000-$1,500
Paul Menard$7,400$6,700-$700
Daniel Hemric$6,600$6,000-$600
Matt DiBenedetto$6,000$5,500-$500
 JuneJulyPrice
DriverPoconoPoconoChange
David Ragan$5,500$5,000-$500
Ryan Preece$5,000$5,000$0
Ty Dillon$6,200$5,000-$1,200
Bubba Wallace$5,000$4,500-$500
Corey LaJoie$4,000$4,500$500
Michael McDowell$4,500$4,000-$500
Matt Tifft$4,000$3,500-$500
Ross Chastain$4,000$3,000-$1,000
Landon Cassill$3,000$2,500-$500
Quin Houff$2,000$2,500$500
Reed Sorenson$2,500$2,500$0

DraftKings Scoring Averages

Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgDK Seas. Avg.
Kyle Busch101.582.543.2523.75-3392.0043.6066.7
Kevin Harvick88.551.567.25-36.2552.2570.0044.6549.38
Brad Keselowski-25.25525453.75113.3827.1048.77
Martin Truex Jr23.558.75-21.532-0.541.1318.4552.14
Denny Hamlin30.7547.53812.540.539.1333.8542.19
Joey Logano220-6.542.255211.0021.9552.24
Chase Elliott4338.5-11.5  40.7523.3343.23
Alex Bowman48.5  221848.5029.5039.17
Ryan Blaney53-1142  21.0028.0038.19
Clint Bowyer5541.75204750.548.3842.8530.35
Kurt Busch42.753639.5-10.2539.539.3829.5043.09
Kyle Larson31053.2548.2523.515.5031.2034.91
Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgDK Seas. Avg.
Erik Jones43.2542   42.6342.6334.5
Aric Almirola28.5-7-7292.2510.759.1534.57
Ryan Newman373625.2512.54936.5031.9536.16
Daniel Suarez54.2539   46.6346.6335.84
Jimmie Johnson45.5-123447.5-16.516.7519.7029.46
Chris Buescher-181370  -2.5021.6730.29
Austin Dillon5528.533.25222741.7533.1520.52
William Byron73    73.0073.0029.11
Ricky Stenhouse Jr1739.2522-3.53128.1321.1524.7
Paul Menard3833-2140.5735.5019.5028.5
Ryan Preece       24.07
Matt DiBenedetto8-12222 3.5012.7525.64
Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgDK Seas. Avg.
Daniel Hemric       17.83
Bubba Wallace17    17.0017.0019.26
Ty Dillon1140   25.5025.5025.77
Matt Tifft       20.11
Michael McDowell252527  25.0025.6715.31
Ross Chastain-4    -4.00-4.0021.9
Corey LaJoie-1328   7.507.5022.26
David Ragan22331334.754527.5029.5517.56
Landon Cassill0171645.5-68.5014.5016.01
Reed Sorenson5 421255.0013.7516.96
Quin Houff       15.21
Josh Bilicki       13.25
BJ McLeod4    4.004.0015
Austin Theriault       10.5

FanDuel Scoring Averages

Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgFD Seas. Avg.
Kyle Busch78.166.449.427.8-14.272.2541.5064.84
Kevin Harvick68.95858-16.758.563.4545.3455.75
Brad Keselowski-1.855.657.159.823.926.9038.9256.34
Martin Truex Jr38.956.6-5.735.616.947.7528.4659.18
Denny Hamlin43.954.846.329.65049.3544.9256.62
Joey Logano33.421.45.838.256.527.4031.0661.96
Chase Elliott51.348.58.9  49.9036.2354.58
Alex Bowman57.9  33.427.957.9039.7354.35
Ryan Blaney55.914.347.3  35.1039.1751.67
Clint Bowyer56.45229.854.55854.2050.1448.25
Kurt Busch48.546.547.34.842.547.5037.9259.66
Kyle Larson38.914.355534126.6040.4448.87
Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgFD Seas. Avg.
Erik Jones52.549.9   51.2051.2050.86
Aric Almirola36.9-3.52.640.515.116.7018.3252.13
Ryan Newman49.94639.429.455.547.9544.0456.24
Daniel Suarez58.850.5   54.6554.6551.83
Jimmie Johnson49.41.241.3542.125.3029.6051.98
Chris Buescher3.826.968.5  15.3533.0751.29
Austin Dillon56.438.641.639.54047.5043.2242.95
William Byron68.4    68.4068.4050.75
Ricky Stenhouse Jr32.944.634.80.241.438.7530.7846.87
Paul Menard43.941.91.949.520.342.9031.5050.65
Ryan Preece       44.89
Matt DiBenedetto25.90.129.831.4 13.0021.8046.84
Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgFD Seas. Avg.
Daniel Hemric       41.52
Bubba Wallace26.3    26.3026.3041.93
Ty Dillon28.946.4   37.6537.6548.78
Matt Tifft       41.95
Michael McDowell39.938.434.8  39.1537.7038.71
Ross Chastain14.1    14.1014.1039.87
Corey LaJoie2.536.4   19.4519.4543.77
David Ragan36.940.42343.647.938.6538.3640.60
Landon Cassill16.828.825.750.5-0.722.8024.2237.21
Reed Sorenson21.6 3.926.233.821.6021.3836.63
Quin Houff       34.35
Josh Bilicki        
BJ McLeod8.7    8.708.70 
Austin Theriault        

Weekly Rankings (1=Best, 40=Worst)

DriverDK$FD $Race HistoryDK Avg L2FD Avg L2DK Avg L5FD Avg L5Pocono HistoryTrack Type History
Kyle Busch$12,300$15,0009114992
Kevin Harvick$11,700$13,5005333511
Brad Keselowski$11,100$13,00082321151333
Martin Truex Jr$10,500$14,0001891124241517
Denny Hamlin$10,200$12,000412976104
Joey Logano$9,800$12,5002124201921149
Chase Elliott$9,500$11,000121081818412
Alex Bowman$9,300$10,000164412112126
Ryan Blaney$9,100$10,7001419191412713
Clint Bowyer$8,900$9,700656541215
Kurt Busch$8,700$11,5001111121215811
Kyle Larson$8,500$10,50013222210101310
DriverDK$FD $Race HistoryDK Avg L2FD Avg L2DK Avg L5FD Avg L5Pocono HistoryTrack Type History
Erik Jones$8,300$9,4003776325
Aric Almirola$8,100$9,10027252829302723
Ryan Newman$8,000$8,00071310971614
Daniel Suarez$7,800$8,2001652265
Jimmie Johnson$7,600$8,40021212422232216
Chris Buescher$7,400$7,30020332920191818
Austin Dillon$7,300$7,00010812881740
William Byron$7,100$8,8002221157
Ricky Stenhouse Jr$7,000$7,70023151621222424
Paul Menard$6,800$6,70024141423202619
Ryan Preece$6,600$5,00040313332332522
Matt DiBenedetto$6,400$5,50026303128273130
DriverDK$FD $Race HistoryDK Avg L2FD Avg L2DK Avg L5FD Avg L5Pocono HistoryTrack Type History
Daniel Hemric$6,300$6,0004031333233117
Bubba Wallace$6,200$4,50029202325254040
Ty Dillon$6,000$5,00017171817172020
Matt Tifft$5,800$3,50040313332333433
Michael McDowell$5,700$4,00015181516161921
Ross Chastain$5,500$3,00031343034312828
Corey LaJoie$5,400$4,50028272730293332
David Ragan$5,300$5,00019161711142325
Landon Cassill$5,200$2,50025262526263027
Reed Sorenson$5,100$2,50030282627283231
Quin Houff$5,000$2,50040313332332829
Josh Bilicki$4,900#N/A40313332334040
BJ McLeod$4,800#N/A32293231323534
Austin Theriault$4,700#N/A40313332334040