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CUP: Pocono 500 Preview
Written by: Tom Jensen   
06/06/2007
Harrisburg, N.C.
 
Hamlin: ready to take it to the next level. (LAT photo) » More Photos


You could make the argument that the rest of the NASCAR Nextel Cup field ought to skip this weekend's Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway and simply give Denny Hamlin the trophy and the check and go spend the weekend at home resting up for the rest of the brutally long season.

After all, Hamlin didn't just dominate the field at Pocono last year, he totally crushed it: As a rookie, he won the poll for both races, led the most laps in each race and won them both, too. It would have been a remarkable performance had a veteran like Tony Stewart or Jeff Gordon turned the trick. But for a first-year who'd never even been on the track before, the results truly were astonishing.

The two Pocono wins helped propel Hamlin into the Chase for the Nextel Cup and a third-place points finish in his first season. All told, it was a riveting effort for a kid who at the time was just 25 years old and 18 months removed from driving late models on the short tracks of his native Virginia.

If Hamlin's Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet unloads off the trailer as fast as it ran last year, it might be lights out for the rest of the competitors. On the other hand, there's a reason NASCAR actually runs the races, instead of just talking about them. Someone else could get as hot this year as Hamlin did in 2006.

Pocono is an interesting track, a 2.5-mile triangle where speeds hit 200 miles per hour at the end of the frontstretch and where it's impossible to get the car set up to optimize its performance in all three turns, each of which is much different than the others.

There is also a developing storyline to consider. NASCAR will announce on Friday that it is penalizing Kurt Busch for nearly running over one of Tony Stewart's crewmen in the pits following a crash between Busch and Stewart at Dover Monday. It is expected – but not confirmed – that Busch will be suspended for one race. And Busch's last three Pocono starts have been solid gold: runner-up to Hamlin in both 2006 races and a victory in the second Pocono race in 2005. A suspension would be a huge blow to Busch.

With that said, here's who to watch in Sunday's Pocono 500 in addition to Hamlin, who is the overwhelming favorite to win his third straight race here, and Busch who might not be in the race at all.
Brian Vickers gave Toyota cause for hope at Charlotte. Can he improve on that at PIR? (LAT photo) » More Photos

BRIAN VICKERS Brian Vickers? Yes, Brian Vickers is someone to definitely keep an eye out for on Sunday. Vickers finished
fourth in both Pocono races last year and second in the June 2005 race, where he led 121 laps. His crew chief, Doug Richert, had some good runs here when he worked with Greg Biffle.

Vickers flashed the potential of the Toyota car of today two weeks ago in the Coca-Cola 600, where he led 76 laps and finished fifth, the best result to date for a Camry. Still, he has one big obstacle. He needs to qualify on speed, something he's failed to do in six of 13 points races so far this season. But if makes the race watch out: This could be the weekend Toyota wins for the first time.

CARL EDWARDS It's hard to believe that it's been 17 months since Carl Edwards has won a NASCAR Nextel Cup race. After a miserable 2006 season, Edwards has come on strong this season, driving his Roush Fenway Racing Ford to top-five finishes in two of the last three races. He's also a past Pocono winner and was a contender here last year before becoming collateral damage when Tony Stewart wrecked Clint Bowyer.

Right now, Edwards is sixth in points, the best position he's been in all season. He is so due for another victory, one that very well could come Sunday at Pocono. Edwards will pull double duty this weekend, flying to Nashville for Saturday's Busch Series race. He leads the Busch Series by 472 points and has three victories there, including one Saturday at Dover. Like I said, he's due to win a Cup race soon.

JIMMIE JOHNSON In 10 Pocono Cup starts, Johnson has never finished outside the top 15 and has two victories, three top fives and six top 10s. Plus, there's the little fact that he's already got four victories this season in Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. He's not an easy out at any track anymore.

JEFF GORDON Gordon has had some spectacular DNFs at Pocono in the past, including a horrifying moment last year when his brakes failed at 200 miles per hour heading into Turn 1 on Lap 191. But he's had plenty of good moments, too, including three victories and five runner-up finishes. The points leader is looking for another strong run Sunday.

TONY STEWART Stewart has finished seventh twice and third once in his last three starts here. There are people who believe that Stewart does his best racing when he's mad and he's probably plenty fired up after yet another crash with Kurt Busch last race at Dover.

That said, it's awfully hard to bet against Hamlin this week.