The Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania have always been a great vacation spot, especially for those seeking to escape the summer heat in the dog days of August. This weekend’s visitors are on no vacation, however, as NASCAR returns to town for the second time in two months.
Four to Follow: Storylines for NASCAR Racing at the Pocono Raceway
The Tricky Triangle
Pocono Raceway is arguably one of the most unique racetracks in the United States, as the only track on the NASCAR national touring schedule with only three turns. And with recent changes done after the June race to fix the bumps in Turn 2, drivers may have a welcome surprise heading their way as they take to the track.
Home Field Advantage
Hometown heroes are always the fans choice when you head to their home track, and New Jersey native Martin Truex Jr. took advantage of that and won at Pocono in June for Furniture Row Racing. Can Truex and his team sweep Pocono for the season, and quiet the rumor mill about their imminent departure from Chevy to Toyota?
Gone Truckin’
As any driver will say, more track time can never hurt in the long haul. Trevor Bayne drove back in June in the ARCA Racing Series and won at the track in his first ever start in the series, and a number of Cup regulars look to do the same this weekend in the Pocono Mountains 125 truck race. Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch will both be in the field, and are the likely favorites to take the checkered flag.
On the Rebound
After a down race at Indy, look for Hendrick Motorsports to make a charge back at Pocono on Sunday and race for the win. All four drivers for the team have found success there, each winning at the tricky track. While Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. have essentially secured their spots in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, teammates Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne will need to race their way in.
Be sure to tune in and watch all the racing action from the tricky triangle this weekend in Pennsylvania. The weekend kicks off with NASCAR Camping World Truck Series racing on Saturday afternoon, followed shortly by the ARCA Racing Series, all on Fox Sports 1 and 2. Then, the Sprint Cup Series takes center stage on Sunday afternoon on NBCSN.
Main Photo: In this handout photo provided by NASCAR, Jimmie Johnson (48) and Carl Edwards (99) lead the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Pocono 400 auto race, June 9, 2013 in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/NASCAR, Patrick Smith)
