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Everything you need to know about Pocono Raceway and the Pennsylvania 400
At Pocono Raceway:
History
— Opened in 1968 as a three-quarter-mile track, Pocono Raceway held the first race on the 2.5-mile track in 1971.
— The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was in 1974.
— The 2.5-mile track was repaved during the fall of 2011.
Notebook
— There have been 69 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Pocono Raceway.
— There was one race from 1974 through 1981, and two per year since.
— This season will mark the first time the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono will be scheduled for 400 miles. Prior to 2012 all NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races were 500 miles at Pocono Raceway.
— Buddy Baker won the first pole.
— There have been 38 different pole winners, including David Pearson who won the pole there in June 1984 but did not race; 17 drivers have more than one pole there.
— The pole has been swept just three times: Bill Elliott (1985), Ken Schrader (1993) and Denny Hamlin (2006).
— Richard Petty won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono.
— 31 different drivers have won races at Pocono, led by Bill Elliott and Jeff Gordon, each with five victories; 20 drivers have won more than once there.
— There have been six season sweeps at Pocono, the last by Denny Hamlin in 2006.
— Bobby Allison (1982, ’83) and Tim Richmond (1986, ’87) each won three consecutive races at Pocono.
— 48 of 69 Pocono races have been won from a top-10 start.
— The June 2005 race was won by Carl Edwards from the 29th starting position, the deepest in the field that a race winner has started.
— 14 of 69 races have been won from the pole, Bill Elliott (1985, 2002) and Denny Hamlin (2006 sweep) are the only drivers to have done it twice. Joey Logano is the most recent driver to win from the pole earlier this season.
— Rick Hendrick leads all car owners with 12 Pocono victories.
— Mark Martin leads all drivers in top fives (20) and top 10s (34), but has yet to win at Pocono. His best finish was second, seven times (most recently last June). In June, Martin set the record for most runner-up finishes at a track without winning.
— Jimmie Johnson (8.7) and Denny Hamlin (9.3) are the only active drivers to average a top 10.
— Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pocono Raceway winner: Joey Logano (06/10/2012 – 22 years, 0 months, 17 days).
— Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pocono Raceway winner: Harry Gant (06/17/1990 – 50 years, 5 months, 7 days).
Pocono Raceway Data
Race #: 21 of 36 (08-05-12)
Track Size: 2.5-miles
Race Length: 160 laps / 400 miles
— Banking/Turn 1: 14 degrees
— Banking/Turn 2: 8 degrees
— Banking/Turn 3: 6 degrees
— Frontstretch: 3,740 feet
— Backstretch: 3,055 feet
— Shortstretch: 1,780 feet
Top 12 Driver Rating at Pocono
Denny Hamlin............................ 117.6
Jimmie Johnson........................ 106.7
Kurt Busch................................ 105.8
Jeff Gordon.............................. 100.3
Tony Stewart............................... 99.3
Carl Edwards.............................. 97.1
Ryan Newman............................. 94.9
Mark Martin................................. 94.8
Kevin Harvick.............................. 90.8
Matt Kenseth.............................. 89.3
Kasey Kahne.............................. 89.3
Jeff Burton................................. 88.6
Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-2012 races (15 total) at Pocono Raceway.
Qualifying/Race Data
2011 pole winner:
Joey Logano, Toyota (172.055 mph, 52.309 sec., 08-06-11)
2011 race winner:
Brad Keselowski, Dodge (137.878 mph, 3:37:35, 08-07-11)
Track qualifying record:
Joey Logano, Toyota (179.598 mph, 50.112 sec., 06-10-12)
Track race record (500 miles):
Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet (145.384 mph, 3:26:21, 06-12-11)
NASCAR in Pennsylvania
— There have been 103 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Pennsylvania.
Pocono Raceway (69); Bloomsburg Fairgrounds (1); Heidelberg Raceway-Pittsburgh (4); Langhorne Speedway (17); Lincoln Speedway (7); New Bradford Speedway (1); Pine Grove Speedway (1); Reading Fairgrounds (2); Williams Grove Speedway (1)
— 138 drivers in NASCAR’s three national series (all-time) have their home state recorded as Pennsylvania.
— There are three race winners from Pennsylvania in NASCAR’s three national series:
Dick Linder (3 Cup wins); Jimmy Spencer (2 Cup, 12 Nationwide, 1 Trucks); Mark Donohue (1 Cup win)
DRIVER SPECIFIC STATISTICS AT POCONO
Jeff Burton (No. 31 Enersys Chevrolet)
— Seven top fives, 17 top 10s
— Average finish of 16.0
— Average Running Position of 14.0, 10th-best
— Driver Rating of 88.6, 12th-best
— 1,241 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
— 1,849 Laps in the Top 15 (64.3%), eighth-most
— 581 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), eighth-most
Kurt Busch (No. 51 Phoenix Construction Services Inc. Chevrolet)
— Two wins, nine top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole
— Average finish of 15.5
— Average Running Position of 10.6, fourth-best
— Driver Rating of 105.8, third-best
— 299 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
— Average Green Flag Speed of 159.966 mph, third-fastest
— 2,029 Laps in the Top 15 (74.8%), seventh-most
Carl Edwards (No. 99 Fastenal Ford)
— Two wins, five top fives, seven top 10s
— Average finish of 13.6
— Driver Rating of 97.1, sixth-best
— 169 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
— Average Green Flag Speed of 159.626 mph, seventh-fastest
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet)
— Five wins, 17 top fives, 27 top 10s; two poles
— Average finish of 10.4
— Average Running Position of 10.3, third-best
— Driver Rating of 100.3, fourth-best
— 106 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
— Average Green Flag Speed of 159.770 mph, fourth-fastest
— 2,159 Laps in the Top 15 (75.1%), third-most
— 660 Quality Passes, third-most
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota)
— Four wins, eight top fives, nine top 10s; two poles
— Average finish of 9.3
— Series-best Average Running Position of 8.6
— Series-best Driver Rating of 117.6
— Series-high 426 Fastest Laps Run
— Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 160.346 mph
— 2,043 Laps in the Top 15 (82.7%), sixth-most
Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevrolet)
— Five top fives, eight top 10s
— Average finish of 14.0
— Average Running Position of 14.0, ninth-best
— Driver Rating of 90.8, ninth-best
— Series-high 1,324 Green Flag Passes
— 630 Quality Passes, sixth-most
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
— Two wins, nine top fives, 15 top 10s; two poles
— Average finish of 8.8
— Average Running Position of 10.2, second-best
— Driver Rating of 106.7, second-best
— 213 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
— Average Green Flag Speed of 159.987 mph, second-fastest
— Series-high 2,278 Laps in the Top 15 (79.3%)
— 686 Quality Passes, second-most
Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet)
— One win, three top fives, five top 10s; two poles
— Average finish of 17.7
— Average Running Position of 14.4, 11th-best
— Driver Rating of 89.3, 11th-best
— 176 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
— 1,267 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most
Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
— Three top fives, 10 top 10s
— Average finish of 13.9
— Average Running Position of 13.6, eighth-best
— Driver Rating of 89.3, 10th-best
— Average Green Flag Speed of 159.439 mph, ninth-fastest
— 638 Quality Passes, fifth-most
Mark Martin (No. 55 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota)
— 20 top fives, 34 top 10s; three poles
— Average finish of 11.1
— Average Running Position of 11.9, sixth-best
— Driver Rating of 94.8, eighth-best
— 81 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
— Average Green Flag Speed of 159.648 mph, fifth-fastest
— 2,055 Laps in the Top 15 (71.5%), fifth-most
Ryan Newman (No. 39 Haas Automation Chevrolet)
— One win, seven top fives, nine top 10s; two poles
— Average finish of 12.7
— Average Running Position of 11.3, fifth-best
— Driver Rating of 94.9, seventh-best
— 1,193 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most
— 2,190 Laps in the Top 15 (76.2%), second-most
— Series-high 715 Quality Passes
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot Back To School Chevrolet)
— Two wins, 10 top fives, 19 top 10s; two poles
— Average finish of 11.5
— Average Running Position of 11.9, seventh-best
— Driver Rating of 99.3, fifth-best
— 80 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
— 1,278 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most
— Average Green Flag Speed of 159.636 mph, sixth-fastest
— 2,075 Laps in the Top 15 (72.2%), fourth-most
— 658 Quality Passes, fourth-most
History
— Opened in 1968 as a three-quarter-mile track, Pocono Raceway held the first race on the 2.5-mile track in 1971.
— The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was in 1974.
— The 2.5-mile track was repaved during the fall of 2011.
Notebook
— There have been 69 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Pocono Raceway.
— There was one race from 1974 through 1981, and two per year since.
— This season will mark the first time the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono will be scheduled for 400 miles. Prior to 2012 all NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races were 500 miles at Pocono Raceway.
— Buddy Baker won the first pole.
— There have been 38 different pole winners, including David Pearson who won the pole there in June 1984 but did not race; 17 drivers have more than one pole there.
— The pole has been swept just three times: Bill Elliott (1985), Ken Schrader (1993) and Denny Hamlin (2006).
— Richard Petty won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono.
— 31 different drivers have won races at Pocono, led by Bill Elliott and Jeff Gordon, each with five victories; 20 drivers have won more than once there.
— There have been six season sweeps at Pocono, the last by Denny Hamlin in 2006.
— Bobby Allison (1982, ’83) and Tim Richmond (1986, ’87) each won three consecutive races at Pocono.
— 48 of 69 Pocono races have been won from a top-10 start.
— The June 2005 race was won by Carl Edwards from the 29th starting position, the deepest in the field that a race winner has started.
— 14 of 69 races have been won from the pole, Bill Elliott (1985, 2002) and Denny Hamlin (2006 sweep) are the only drivers to have done it twice. Joey Logano is the most recent driver to win from the pole earlier this season.
— Rick Hendrick leads all car owners with 12 Pocono victories.
— Mark Martin leads all drivers in top fives (20) and top 10s (34), but has yet to win at Pocono. His best finish was second, seven times (most recently last June). In June, Martin set the record for most runner-up finishes at a track without winning.
— Jimmie Johnson (8.7) and Denny Hamlin (9.3) are the only active drivers to average a top 10.
— Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pocono Raceway winner: Joey Logano (06/10/2012 – 22 years, 0 months, 17 days).
— Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pocono Raceway winner: Harry Gant (06/17/1990 – 50 years, 5 months, 7 days).
Pocono Raceway Data
Race #: 21 of 36 (08-05-12)
Track Size: 2.5-miles
Race Length: 160 laps / 400 miles
— Banking/Turn 1: 14 degrees
— Banking/Turn 2: 8 degrees
— Banking/Turn 3: 6 degrees
— Frontstretch: 3,740 feet
— Backstretch: 3,055 feet
— Shortstretch: 1,780 feet
Top 12 Driver Rating at Pocono
Denny Hamlin............................ 117.6
Jimmie Johnson........................ 106.7
Kurt Busch................................ 105.8
Jeff Gordon.............................. 100.3
Tony Stewart............................... 99.3
Carl Edwards.............................. 97.1
Ryan Newman............................. 94.9
Mark Martin................................. 94.8
Kevin Harvick.............................. 90.8
Matt Kenseth.............................. 89.3
Kasey Kahne.............................. 89.3
Jeff Burton................................. 88.6
Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-2012 races (15 total) at Pocono Raceway.
Qualifying/Race Data
2011 pole winner:
Joey Logano, Toyota (172.055 mph, 52.309 sec., 08-06-11)
2011 race winner:
Brad Keselowski, Dodge (137.878 mph, 3:37:35, 08-07-11)
Track qualifying record:
Joey Logano, Toyota (179.598 mph, 50.112 sec., 06-10-12)
Track race record (500 miles):
Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet (145.384 mph, 3:26:21, 06-12-11)
NASCAR in Pennsylvania
— There have been 103 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Pennsylvania.
Pocono Raceway (69); Bloomsburg Fairgrounds (1); Heidelberg Raceway-Pittsburgh (4); Langhorne Speedway (17); Lincoln Speedway (7); New Bradford Speedway (1); Pine Grove Speedway (1); Reading Fairgrounds (2); Williams Grove Speedway (1)
— 138 drivers in NASCAR’s three national series (all-time) have their home state recorded as Pennsylvania.
— There are three race winners from Pennsylvania in NASCAR’s three national series:
Dick Linder (3 Cup wins); Jimmy Spencer (2 Cup, 12 Nationwide, 1 Trucks); Mark Donohue (1 Cup win)
DRIVER SPECIFIC STATISTICS AT POCONO
Jeff Burton (No. 31 Enersys Chevrolet)
— Seven top fives, 17 top 10s
— Average finish of 16.0
— Average Running Position of 14.0, 10th-best
— Driver Rating of 88.6, 12th-best
— 1,241 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
— 1,849 Laps in the Top 15 (64.3%), eighth-most
— 581 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), eighth-most
Kurt Busch (No. 51 Phoenix Construction Services Inc. Chevrolet)
— Two wins, nine top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole
— Average finish of 15.5
— Average Running Position of 10.6, fourth-best
— Driver Rating of 105.8, third-best
— 299 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
— Average Green Flag Speed of 159.966 mph, third-fastest
— 2,029 Laps in the Top 15 (74.8%), seventh-most
Carl Edwards (No. 99 Fastenal Ford)
— Two wins, five top fives, seven top 10s
— Average finish of 13.6
— Driver Rating of 97.1, sixth-best
— 169 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
— Average Green Flag Speed of 159.626 mph, seventh-fastest
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet)
— Five wins, 17 top fives, 27 top 10s; two poles
— Average finish of 10.4
— Average Running Position of 10.3, third-best
— Driver Rating of 100.3, fourth-best
— 106 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
— Average Green Flag Speed of 159.770 mph, fourth-fastest
— 2,159 Laps in the Top 15 (75.1%), third-most
— 660 Quality Passes, third-most
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota)
— Four wins, eight top fives, nine top 10s; two poles
— Average finish of 9.3
— Series-best Average Running Position of 8.6
— Series-best Driver Rating of 117.6
— Series-high 426 Fastest Laps Run
— Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 160.346 mph
— 2,043 Laps in the Top 15 (82.7%), sixth-most
Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevrolet)
— Five top fives, eight top 10s
— Average finish of 14.0
— Average Running Position of 14.0, ninth-best
— Driver Rating of 90.8, ninth-best
— Series-high 1,324 Green Flag Passes
— 630 Quality Passes, sixth-most
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
— Two wins, nine top fives, 15 top 10s; two poles
— Average finish of 8.8
— Average Running Position of 10.2, second-best
— Driver Rating of 106.7, second-best
— 213 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
— Average Green Flag Speed of 159.987 mph, second-fastest
— Series-high 2,278 Laps in the Top 15 (79.3%)
— 686 Quality Passes, second-most
Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet)
— One win, three top fives, five top 10s; two poles
— Average finish of 17.7
— Average Running Position of 14.4, 11th-best
— Driver Rating of 89.3, 11th-best
— 176 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
— 1,267 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most
Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
— Three top fives, 10 top 10s
— Average finish of 13.9
— Average Running Position of 13.6, eighth-best
— Driver Rating of 89.3, 10th-best
— Average Green Flag Speed of 159.439 mph, ninth-fastest
— 638 Quality Passes, fifth-most
Mark Martin (No. 55 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota)
— 20 top fives, 34 top 10s; three poles
— Average finish of 11.1
— Average Running Position of 11.9, sixth-best
— Driver Rating of 94.8, eighth-best
— 81 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
— Average Green Flag Speed of 159.648 mph, fifth-fastest
— 2,055 Laps in the Top 15 (71.5%), fifth-most
Ryan Newman (No. 39 Haas Automation Chevrolet)
— One win, seven top fives, nine top 10s; two poles
— Average finish of 12.7
— Average Running Position of 11.3, fifth-best
— Driver Rating of 94.9, seventh-best
— 1,193 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most
— 2,190 Laps in the Top 15 (76.2%), second-most
— Series-high 715 Quality Passes
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot Back To School Chevrolet)
— Two wins, 10 top fives, 19 top 10s; two poles
— Average finish of 11.5
— Average Running Position of 11.9, seventh-best
— Driver Rating of 99.3, fifth-best
— 80 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
— 1,278 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most
— Average Green Flag Speed of 159.636 mph, sixth-fastest
— 2,075 Laps in the Top 15 (72.2%), fourth-most
— 658 Quality Passes, fourth-most
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