With only six races remaining in the NASCAR Cup Series regular-season, the pressure continues to mount on the drivers around the cut line. Only four open spots remain; a win would lock any prospective playoff drivers in. Meanwhile, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell and William Byron look to separate themselves from the field with a series-leading fourth win. Here’s what you need to know before the green flag flies at Pocono Raceway.
The Track – Pocono Raceway
Nicknamed the “Tricky Triangle,” Pocono’s treacherous three turns make for one of the most unique racetracks in the world. The same length – 2.5 miles – as both Daytona and Indianapolis, Pocono provides a challenge that can only be found on its hallowed grounds. Fuel strategy and restarts are always the name of the game at Pocono, and at a track where a late-race restart has decided the race winner two years in a row, you don’t want to get caught napping in the restart zone.
Current NASCAR Cup Series Standings:
Regular-Season Championship:
- Kyle Larson, 671
- Chase Elliott, 660 (-11)
- Tyler Reddick, 648 (-23)
- Denny Hamlin, 629 (-42)
- Martin Truex Jr, 601 (-70)
Chase Elliott’s 21st-place finish – the worst result of the season for the 2020 champion – helped Kyle Larson, who crashed out of the Chicago Street Race, keep his lead in the regular-season standings by just 11 points. Both Larson and Elliott have shown speed at Pocono Raceway in recent years, so don’t be surprised if the regular-season points battle continues to feature the two Hendrick Motorsports drivers.
NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Bubble:
14. Ty Gibbs (+84)
15. Ross Chastain (+53)
16. Chris Buescher (+45)
17. Bubba Wallace (-45)
18. Chase Briscoe (-88)
19. Kyle Busch (-98)
20. Todd Gilliland (-121)
The points battle for the final few playoff spots may not be too intriguing at the moment, but all it takes is for one new wildcard winner to shake up the fold. Bubba Wallace should be strong at both Pocono Raceway and Indianapolis, but it will likely take a win over the next six races for any driver below the cut line to vault into a postseason spot.
Race Predictions
When Denny Hamlin told fans after winning last year at Pocono that they could boo his rock … these are the rocks he was talking about, rocks that honor the most accomplished drivers here. pic.twitter.com/7S7lgAuLbU
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 12, 2024
If any driver should be considered the favorite for Sunday’s race, it would be seven-time Pocono winner Denny Hamlin, who collected his latest Pocono win last year. Hamlin would be an eight-time winner at the track if not for a post-race disqualification in 2022, proving he’s still king of the “Tricky Triangle” even with the Next-Gen car. Hamlin won’t be alone at the front, however – Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Ross Chastain will make up Chevy’s contingent of favorites while defending Cup Series champ Ryan Blaney won at Pocono in 2017. The greatest threat to Hamlin, however, could come from within – his JGR teammate Christopher Bell has been the fastest driver in the field over the last month of races, while 23XI driver Tyler Reddick has two straight top-three finishes.
How to watch the Great American Getaway 400 from Pocono Raceway:
Practice: 7/13, 12:00 p.m. ET, USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App
Qualifying: 7/13, 12:45 p.m. ET, USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App
Race: 7/14, 2:30 p.m. ET, USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App
