Beat The Experts: Axalta ‘We Paint Winners’ 400 At Pocono
By Cole Mentzel
This week, the NASCAR Sprint Cup series shifts to Pennsylvania. Pocono Raceway, otherwise known as “The Tricky Triangle”, is the next track in the schedule and it always unleashes plenty of drama with it’s high speeds and long frontstretch. Dale Earnhardt Jr. swept the superspeedway last season so who do you think will win the first race there in 2015? Our staff weighed in:
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Amy Marbach – Martin Truex Jr. – He is so due for a win. His team is so strong and has led the most laps in the last 2-3 laps. Truex and crew chief Cole Pearn have to have that first 2015 win coming soon!
Christopher Olmstead – Jeff Gordon – Gordon has had success at Pocono in the past and there is no reason to believe that he cannot have success there again this weekend. Despite not winning thus far in 2015, Gordon keeps finding ways to be in the top-10 and this weekend that consistency will result in his 93rd career win.
Joseph Shelton – Kevin Harvick – We’re seeing him run like he’s never run before this season. Keep in mind he finished second to Jr. here in August. Unless Jimmie Johnson once again beats the competition like a red headed stepchild, look for Harvick to add a win at Pocono to his impressive year so far.
John Harlow – Denny Hamlin – It’s Pocono. Hamlin is amazing there. He’s raced there 18 times in his career and has finished outside of the top 10 only six times.
Claire Steen – Carl Edwards – I think he has some momentum with a great set-up and with his big win in the Coca-Cola 600. I feel like we are seeing a resurgence in Cousin Carl.
Mike Hutton – Kasey Kahne – The Hendrick horsepower on a relatively flat track will be great along with the fact that all four of them are coming off strong runs at Dover.
Marco Venosta – Dale Earnhardt Jr. – I think he will add another big win at Pocono after sweeping both races last season. He had a tough day at Dover but never gave up and still finished in the top 15 after fighting back from last on the grid.
Zach Roethlisberger – Kurt Busch – Looking back at Auto Club, that track draws the biggest comparisons to Pocono in terms of speed. I like what he showed there and I think the Stewart-Haas cars have the most straight line speed compared to everyone else.
Cole Mentzel – Dale Earnhardt Jr. – I’m going with the obvious pick here. He’s won the last two Pocono races so he knows how to win there but I liked his response to starting from the back at Dover. He ended up 14th, and that gives him momentum entering this weekend.
Underdog of the Weekend – Clint Bowyer – He’s had some really solid runs in the last few weeks and has some very solid races at Pocono in the past. Watch out for him in the closing laps of the race, because Clint Bowyer could surprise you.
This weekend is setting up to be great. With nine different winners already this season, there might just be a new driver punching their ticket into the Chase on Sunday. Pocono is always one of the more interesting tracks for the drivers to race at and we are in store for an exciting race!
Leave a comment below and let us know who you think will get to Victory Lane on Sunday! We will randomly select one reader who tweets us or messages us the correct winner of Facebook and they will win a cool prize.