He saved enough fuel to win eight weeks ago, got out of the car and said, “I’m not telling you what I did to save.” Tony Stewart became NASCAR’s first driver/owner to win a race since Ricky Rudd did it in 1998 at Martinsville when he won the Pocono 500 on June 7th. He outlasted Carl Edwards to take the win.
Now, I’m not used to being in NASCAR mode still after the Brickyard, I’m more used to watching football practice right about now, but I’ll give you bonus NASCAR coverage until the football season starts. This weekend is the return trip to Pocono, and my thoughts are below.
1. The winner of this weekend’s race finished 1st, 2nd or 3rd last weekend
Let’s be honest, the winner of this race will either be Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin or Tony Stewart.
Now, I’m not used to being in NASCAR mode still after the Brickyard, I’m more used to watching football practice right about now, but I’ll give you bonus NASCAR coverage until the football season starts. This weekend is the return trip to Pocono, and my thoughts are below.
1. The winner of this weekend’s race finished 1st, 2nd or 3rd last weekend
Let’s be honest, the winner of this race will either be Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin or Tony Stewart.
Jimmie Johnson ran well at Pocono in June, leading 31 laps before having to pit for fuel. Johnson is coming off yet another win at Indianapolis and his #48 team is making strides toward yet another title run. Johnson is well behind Stewart in the standings—nearly 200 points separate him from the last driver to win a title before him—but firmly in the Chase. Expect Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus to pull out all the stops going for the win this weekend.
Mark Martin has ratcheted up his game recently. Since the series last visited Pocono, where he ran 3rd most of the day, he has won twice and finished second last weekend at Indianapolis. His Hendrick Motorsports team has brought the same car that he ran so well with last weekend at Indy to the mountains in Pennsylvania. Can he notch a win at a track he’s never won at? He’s finished second six times at Pocono, and this could be a great chance for Martin to notch win number one at the 2.5 mile triangle.
Tony Stewart won the last time the series ran at Pocono and he currently leads the series points standings. He outlasted Carl Edwards on a fuel run late in the race—in a backup car—to capture his first victory of the 2009 season. Many are surprised by how well “Smoke” has done this season but no one, even Stewart himself, expected a season like he’s had so far. I think Smoke will contend for the win but I don’t think he’ll be able to outrun Martin or Johnson.
2. Roush Fenway Racing’s weekend storylines:
A) Can Carl Edwards pull off a win at Pocono?
Edwards led 103 laps at Pocono in June and although he couldn’t get to Stewart in the end he finished well. “Cousin Carl” sits sixth in points and normally runs well at Pocono. After all, he won this race in 2008. I see Carl hanging out up front this weekend, but after watching him struggle last weekend at a similar track, I’m just not sure he’s good enough to make a run for the win.
B) Will Matt Kenseth’s sponsorship worries affect his on track performance?
As announced last weekend, Matt Kenseth will lose DeWalt as his primary sponsor in 2010. “We’ve been together for a long time and it's going to be weird not to be in a yellow and black car with Dewalt on the side,” he said. It might be tough adjusting to not seeing the black and yellow car with the #17 emblazoned on the side, but Matt has already said, “I’m excited about teaming up with Crown Royal.” I doubt it will be a huge distraction to Kenseth, who won the Daytona 500 in February, because everything seems to be in order for next season. Now only if he could get his team in order this season. He’s 12th in points and needs a decent day to stay there. Pocono is his chance to right his ship and get some momentum rolling before the Chase begins.
C) Will Jamie McMurray become distracted by the Silly Season rumors?
After it was announced that his sponsor would be moving to Kenseth’s car in 2010, everyone in and around the Roush camp knew that Jamie McMurray would no longer be in a RFR car next season. It’s what most fans and media have speculated for two seasons now. McMurray’s lackluster performance and poor finishes have not lived up to his original expectations at Roush. Now he’s the hottest name in the garage to move to the #1 car. Where will he end up? I’m not sure anyone knows right now, even McMurray.
2. Roush Fenway Racing’s weekend storylines:
A) Can Carl Edwards pull off a win at Pocono?
Edwards led 103 laps at Pocono in June and although he couldn’t get to Stewart in the end he finished well. “Cousin Carl” sits sixth in points and normally runs well at Pocono. After all, he won this race in 2008. I see Carl hanging out up front this weekend, but after watching him struggle last weekend at a similar track, I’m just not sure he’s good enough to make a run for the win.
B) Will Matt Kenseth’s sponsorship worries affect his on track performance?
As announced last weekend, Matt Kenseth will lose DeWalt as his primary sponsor in 2010. “We’ve been together for a long time and it's going to be weird not to be in a yellow and black car with Dewalt on the side,” he said. It might be tough adjusting to not seeing the black and yellow car with the #17 emblazoned on the side, but Matt has already said, “I’m excited about teaming up with Crown Royal.” I doubt it will be a huge distraction to Kenseth, who won the Daytona 500 in February, because everything seems to be in order for next season. Now only if he could get his team in order this season. He’s 12th in points and needs a decent day to stay there. Pocono is his chance to right his ship and get some momentum rolling before the Chase begins.
C) Will Jamie McMurray become distracted by the Silly Season rumors?
After it was announced that his sponsor would be moving to Kenseth’s car in 2010, everyone in and around the Roush camp knew that Jamie McMurray would no longer be in a RFR car next season. It’s what most fans and media have speculated for two seasons now. McMurray’s lackluster performance and poor finishes have not lived up to his original expectations at Roush. Now he’s the hottest name in the garage to move to the #1 car. Where will he end up? I’m not sure anyone knows right now, even McMurray.
3. Juan Pablo Montoya needs to get over last weekend
I’ve read all the stories about Juan Pablo Montoya’s speeding penalty last weekend at Indy. As it turned out he was speeding in the time trap right in front of me. I couldn’t tell, but then again I was more focused on the car coming in behind him.
It’s done, it’s over with and he needs to focus this weekend on running well at Pocono. And if I read one more article like this one, (http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/opinion/07/29/inside.line.dcaraviello.jmontoya.speeding/index.html) I might have to scream. I guess Juan Pablo plays by a different rule book, should be judged differently and we need to give him a win. Speeding happens to everyone, he broke the rules and he has to deal with the consequences.
But, all in all, he needs to get over the dominant performance he had at Indy and put an effort like that into a run at Pocono. He could be dangerous if that happens.
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I hope I have shed some light on this weekend’s race at Pocono. It has been a busy, whirlwind week and that’s ok, I’m still processing last weekend’s trip to Indy and I’m working on a few more stories for everyone here. I hope you enjoy the weekend and if I don’t get to check back in I’ll be back on Monday. Enjoy the day and the weekend.
But, all in all, he needs to get over the dominant performance he had at Indy and put an effort like that into a run at Pocono. He could be dangerous if that happens.
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I hope I have shed some light on this weekend’s race at Pocono. It has been a busy, whirlwind week and that’s ok, I’m still processing last weekend’s trip to Indy and I’m working on a few more stories for everyone here. I hope you enjoy the weekend and if I don’t get to check back in I’ll be back on Monday. Enjoy the day and the weekend.
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