Pocono Raceway
Track data
Race #: 14 of 36 (6-11-06)
Track Size: 2.5 Mile
Event: Pocono 500
Number of Laps: 200
Location: Pocono, PA
Length of Event: 500 Miles
Length of Front Stretch: 3,740 Feet
Length of Long Pond Stretch: 3,055 Feet
Length of Back Stretch: 1,780 Feet
Degree of Banking in Corner #1: 14 degrees
Degree of Banking in Corner #2: 8 degrees
Degree of Banking in Corner #3: 6 degrees
Qualifying data:
Last year's event pole winner: Michael Waltrip 169.052 mph 6-11-05 53.238 seconds
Last year's event winner: Carl Edwards 129.177 mph 6-12-05 3 hr, 53 min, 24 sec
Track qualifying record: Kasey Kahne 172.533 mph 6-11-04 52.164 seconds
Track race record: Rusty Wallace 144.892 mph 7-21-96 3 hr, 27 min, 03 sec
Historical data:
Previous winners at Pocono:
Bill Elliott (5) Darrell Waltrip (4) Tim Richmond (4) Rusty Wallace (4) Bobby Allison (3)
Geoffrey Bodine (3) Jeff Gordon (3) Bobby Labonte (3) Dale Jarrett (3) Richard Petty (2)
Harry Gant (2) Cale Yarborough (2) Dale Earnhardt (2) Terry Labonte (2) Jeremy Mayfield (2)
Jimmie Johnson (2) David Pearson (1) Benny Parsons (1) Neil Bonnett (1) Alan Kulwicki (1)
Kyle Petty (1) Ricky Rudd (1) Tony Stewart (1) Ryan Newman (1) Carl Edwards (1)
Kurt Busch (1)
Races won from the pole: 9 of 56 events (16%)
Races won from in top 10: 40 of 56 events (71%)
Races won from outside top 10: 16 of 56 events (29%)
Track Milestones
Buddy Baker won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Bud Pole at Pocono in 1974.
Richard Petty won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Pocono, the Purolator 500 on August 4, 1974.
Qualifying has been canceled due to weather twice at Pocono Raceway: June 1982 and June 2002.
The race at Pocono has been shortened by rain four times: 1974, July 1986, July 1991 and July 2002.
There has never been a caution-free race at Pocono.
The race at Pocono has ended under caution seven times, including four of the past six races.
Qualifying Update
There have been 18 different Bud Pole winners in the 19 races at Pocono since June 1996. Qualifying was
canceled in June 2002 due to weather.
Track Update
Jimmie Johnson swept both Pocono races in 2004; Bobby Labonte swept both in 1999. There was a
different race winner in each of the eight races in between those two sweeps, including Labonte who won there in
July 2001.
Manufacturer Update
Bill Elliott won the 2002 Pennsylvania 500, the first victory by a Dodge driver at Pocono since Richard
Petty won the 1976 Purolator 500, the third race in Pocono history. Petty won two of the first three races at
Pocono in a Dodge.
Owner Update
Jack Roush Racing competed in 36 races totaling 110 entries at Pocono before posting its first victory
when Carl Edwards won the Pocono 500 last season. Roush then posted a second victory the very next race there
when Kurt Busch won the 2005 Pennsylvania 500. A Roush driver finished second 11 times in those 110 entries
before finally reaching the Pocono victory lane.
The Money
Purse $4,881,521
NASCAR NEXTEL Leader Bonus $50,000
Tire/Fuel Data
Goodyear Tire Codes: Left-side - D-4028; Right-side - D-4030
Other Nextel Cup Tracks With Same Tire Combinations: None
Estimated Pit Window: every 34-38 laps, based on fuel mileage
Notebook
The field will consist of 43 cars. The 43rd position is reserved for a past NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion,
if needed. If unused, it will go to the next eligible owner.
Two qualifying laps will be used to determine the starting positions with the adjustments made afterwards as
required.
There have been 56 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Pocono Raceway since the first race was held there in
1974. There was one race a year from 1974 through 1981 and two-a-year since 1982.
Ken Schrader and Bill Elliott lead all other drivers, each with five Bud Poles at Pocono.
Michael Waltrip is the defending Bud Pole winner for the Pocono 500.
Carl Edwards is the defending race winner of the Pocono 500.
The pole position has been the most productive at Pocono, producing nine race winners.
Thirty-two of 56 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Pocono have been won from the first four starting
positions.
Twelve of the last 17 races at Pocono Raceway have been won from a starting position of fifth or better.
Only six NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Pocono have ever been won from a starting position worse than
15th, most recently by Carl Edwards who won the 2005 Pocono 500 from 29th, the farthest back that a race
winner at Pocono has ever started.
In 24 years of twice-a-year NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Pocono since 1982, a sweep has occurred only
five times: Bobby Allison (1982), Bill Elliott (1985), Tim Richmond (1986), Bobby Labonte (1999) and
Jimmie Johnson (2004).
Bobby Allison and Tim Richmond are the only drivers to win three straight NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races
at Pocono.
Hendrick Success
Hendrick Motorsports, the leading car owner at Pocono. HMS has won 10 Pocono races with five different
drivers: Tim Richmond (three), Jeff Gordon (three), Jimmie Johnson (two), Geoffrey Bodine (one) and Terry
Labonte (one).
Would You Believe?
Mark Martin leads all drivers at Pocono, with and 19 top-five and 27 top-10 finishes in 38 races, yet has not
posted a victory at the Pennsylvania speedway. He has six second-place finishes there, most recently in August
2004.
Starting Up Front is Important at Pocono Raceway
Five of the last seven races at Pocono Raceway have been won from a top-five starting position. Only four
races at Pocono Raceway have been won from a starting position below 16th.
Bud Pole Winners Galore
There have been 18 different Bud Pole winners in the last 19 races at Pocono Raceway. Qualifying was
rained out in June 2002.
Pocono Streaks
Brian Vickers has started from the top 10 in all four of his races at Pocono Raceway, the longest current
streak.
Carl Edward has scored top-five finishes in his two races at Pocono Raceway.
Jimmie Johnson has scored eight straight top-15 finishes in his eight races at Pocono Raceway. Two of those
finishes were victories. Johnson swept both Pocono races in 2004.
Owner Wins at Pocono Raceway
Car owner Rick Hendrick has scored 10 wins at Pocono Raceway, the most of any car owner. Hendrick's
victories were scored by five different drivers: Tim Richmond (three), Jeff Gordon (three), Jimmie Johnson
(two) and Terry Labonte and Geoffrey Bodine (one each).
Recent Domination at Pocono Raceway
Kurt Busch is the only driver to lead more than one lap in both races at Pocono in 2005.
Elliott Sadler (14), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (12), Matt Kenseth (12), Dave Blaney (12), Jimmie Johnson
(eight), Scott Riggs (four), Brian Vickers (four), Kasey Kahne (four), Carl Edwards (two) and Travis
Kvapil (two) have each been running at the finish in all of their races at Pocono.
Jack Roush Racing won both races at Pocono in 2005 (Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch). Hendrick
Motorsports won both Pocono races in 2004 (both by Jimmie Johnson).
Leading The Way at Pocono
Jeff Gordon ranks first all-time in laps led at Pocono, leading 841 laps in 26 races there. Geoffrey Bodine
follows in second with 806 laps in 39 races at Pocono.
Would you Believe?
Carl Edwards started 29th and went on to victory in this race one year ago - the furthest back a race winner
has started in the 56 races at Pocono.
How Slow Can You Go?
The spring race at Pocono in 2004 was run with an average speed of 112.129 mph - the second slowest race
in Pocono history. The slowest race at Pocono was the second race held there, which was won by David Pearson
(1975) with an average speed of 111.180 mph.
Pocono Standouts
Ricky Rudd had 53 career starts at Pocono Raceway, more than any other driver.
Kyle Petty leads all full-time drivers with 47 starts at Pocono Raceway.
Ken Schrader and Bill Elliott each scored five Bud Poles at Pocono Raceway, leading all drivers.
Bill Elliott leads all drivers with five victories at Pocono Raceway.
Mark Martin leads all drivers with 19 top-five finishes at Pocono Raceway.
Mark Martin leads all drivers with 27 top-10 finishes at Pocono Raceway.
Brian Vickers leads all active drivers with a 4.750 starting average in four races at Pocono Raceway.
Jimmie Johnson has a 8.125 finishing average in his eight races at Pocono, the best of all active drivers with
more than two starts.
Milestones
Bobby Labonte is expected to make his 450th consecutive NASCAR NEXTEL Cup career start at Pocono
Raceway.
Kevin Harvick is expected to make his 150th consecutive NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start at Pocono
Raceway.
Who's Hot
Denny Hamlin has posted four straight top-10 starts and four straight top-15 finishes.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has scored four straight top-15 finishes.
Greg Biffle has scored top-10 finishes in each of his last four races. Four races ago Biffle was 232 points
behind 10th. After his eighth-place finish at Dover he is now 85 points behind 10th, a gain of 147 points
on 10th in those four races.
Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson have each won three races in 2006, the most of all drivers.
Matt Kenseth is the only driver to score eight top-five finishes in the 13 races this season, including the
last three races.
Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to score 10 top-10 finishes in the first 13 races of 2006.
Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson have each scored top-15 finishes in 12 of the 13 races in 2006.
Greg Biffle is the only driver to lead at least one lap in 11 of the 13 races this season.
Matt Kenseth ranks second in the point standings after Dover. After 13 races one year ago, he ranked
22nd.
Jeff Burton has climbed from 21st to 7th in the point standings since Martinsville. In those seven races he
scored six top-10 finishes and all seven were top-15s. One year ago he ranked 16th.
Top 10 in Points at This Track
Point Standings Driver Starts Wins Best Top 5s Top 10s
1st Johnson, Jimmie 8 2 1 (2 Times) 3 4
2nd Kenseth, Matt 12 *** 3 (1 Time) 2 5
3rd Martin, Mark 38 *** 2 (6 Times) 19 27
4th Earnhardt Jr., Dale 12 *** 2 (1 Time) 3 4
5th Stewart, Tony 14 1 1 (1 Time) 3 9
6th Kahne, Kasey 4 *** 3 (1 Time) 1 1
7th Burton, Jeff 24 *** 2 (2 Times) 6 11
8th Harvick, Kevin 10 *** 6 (2 Times) *** 3
9th Gordon, Jeff 26 3 1 (3 Times) 12 18
10th Busch, Kyle 2 *** 4 (1 Time) 1 1
First
Jimmie Johnson finished sixth in the 2006 Neighborhood Excellence 400 presented by Bank of America at
Dover International Speedway and remained first in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings, now only 74
points ahead of second-place Matt Kenseth. Johnson came from a lap down at Dover to salvage his 10th top-
10 finishes in 13 races this season, the most of all drivers. Johnson's three victories (Daytona, Las Vegas and
Talladega) tie Kasey Kahne (Atlanta, Texas and Lowe's) for the most by a driver this season. In 2006 Johnson
has scored 12 top-15s in the first 13 races and is tied with Mark Martin who also has 12 top-15 finishes, the only
drivers to do so. Johnson ranked first in the point standings after Race No. 13 in 2005 with a 46-point lead over
then second-place Greg Biffle. Johnson has ranked among the top-10 for 82 straight races, since Atlanta in March
2004. He has competed in eight races at Pocono Raceway, scoring two victories and four top-10 finishes. All eight
of his finishes at Pocono have been top-15s. He won both races there in 2004. Johnson has an 8.125 average finish
at Pocono Raceway. Johnson finished sixth in this race one year ago and posted a 12th-place finish there last July.
He led the most laps both races there in 2004 and drove to victory in each. Johnson has finished on the lead lap in
all eight of his races at Pocono Raceway. Johnson has won at least one race each season for five consecutive years
(2002-2006).
Second
Matt Kenseth finished first in the 2006 Neighborhood Excellence 400 presented by Bank of America at
Dover International Speedway scoring his second victory and ninth top-10 finish in 2006. Eight of his nine top-
10 finishes in 2006 are top-fives. Kenseth scored his first victory of 2006 at California. He has scored 11 top-15
finishes in 13 races this season. Kenseth remained second in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. One
year ago he ranked 22nd in the point standings after 13 races. Kenseth has ranked among the top-five in the point
standings since his victory in Race No. 2 at California. He has competed in 12 races at Pocono Raceway scoring
five top-10 finishes. Kenseth has scored only one top-10 finish in his last five races at Pocono. He finished 32nd
in this race one year ago and 36th there last July, his worst season at Pocono in the six seasons that he has raced
there. He has a 16.250 finishing average at Pocono. He has led in five of his 12 races at Pocono, but has never led
more than 10 laps in a race there. Kenseth failed to finish on the lead lap at Pocono in 2005. Kenseth has won at
least one race each season for five consecutive years (2002-2006).
Third
Mark Martin finished ninth in the 2006 Neighborhood Excellence 400 presented by Bank of America at Dover
International Speedway and remained third in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. At this point one year
ago he ranked sixth in the point standings. Martin has scored 16 top-15 finishes in the 17 races since Atlanta last
October. He has had only one DNF (Talladega in October 2005 - Accident) in the 37 races since Dover in June
2005. Martin has competed in 38 races at Pocono Raceway, scoring 19 top-five and 27 top-10 finishes there, both
the most of all drivers in Pocono history. He has never won a race at Pocono Raceway. He finished seventh in this
race one year ago and third there last July. Martin has a 10.50 average finish at Pocono Raceway. Despite his great
average finish, he has led only 376 laps there in 24 different races. He has led the most laps in just one race at
Pocono when he led 121 laps in July 1996 which is almost one third of his laps led there in just one race. Martin
has finished on the lead lap in his last three races at Pocono.
B - 14
Fourth
Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 10th in the 2006 Neighborhood Excellence 400 presented by Bank of America at
Dover International Speedway and climbed from fifth to fourth in the point standings. One year ago he ranked
15th in the point standings. Earnhardt has scored 10 top-15 finishes in the 13 races in 2006. He has competed in
12 races at Pocono Raceway, scoring four top-10 finishes. His best Pocono finish of second came there in July
2001. He finished 33rd in this race one year ago and finished 32nd there last July, his worst full season at Pocono
since his first season there in 2000. Earnhardt has a 17.166 average finish at Pocono. He has led in four of his 12
races at Pocono, never leading more than 31 laps in a single race. Earnhardt Jr. has not finished on the lead lap his
last three races at Pocono but he has been running at the finish in all 12 of his races at Pocono Raceway.
Fifth
Tony Stewart was credited with a 25th-place finish after being relieved by Ricky Rudd on lap 38 in the 2006
Neighborhood Excellence 400 presented by Bank of America at Dover International Speedway. He dropped from
fourth to fifth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Stewart has finishes of 42nd and 43rd in 2006.
Stewart led at least one lap in the first nine races but has failed to lead in the last four. His 60 lap leader bonus
points are second only to Biffle who has 75. Both Stewart and Biffle have each led 801 laps, the most among all
drivers. Six of his seven top-10 finishes in 2006 are top-fives. He has competed in 14 races at Pocono Raceway
scoring one victory and nine top-10 finishes. Despite his good record at Pocono, Stewart has scored only one top-
10 finish in his last five races at Pocono. Stewart finished 29th in this race one year ago and seventh there last July.
His only victory at Pocono Raceway came there in June 2003. Stewart has two DNFs at Pocono Raceway. He has
a 14.428 finishing average at Pocono Raceway. He has led in five of his 14 races at Pocono, leading just 92 laps.
He has never led the most laps in a race at Pocono Raceway. He has finished on the lead lap in only one of the last
five races at Pocono Raceway. Stewart has won at least one race each season for eight consecutive years (1999-
2006).
Sixth
Kasey Kahne finished seventh in the 2006 Neighborhood Excellence 400 presented by Bank of America at
Dover International Speedway scoring his eighth top-10 finish in 2006. Kahne has scored three victories (Atlanta,
Texas and Lowe's) in 2006, tied with Jimmie Johnson for the most. Kahne has scored nine top-15 finishes in the
first 13 races in 2006. One year ago he ranked 18th in the point standings. Kahne has competed in just four races
at Pocono scoring just one top-10 finish there, a third in August 2001. He finished 27th in both races at Pocono
Raceway in 2005. Kahne has a 17.75 average finish at Pocono. He has been running at the finish in all four of his
races at Pocono. Kahne failed to finish on the lead lap in his last two races at Pocono Raceway. Kahne has won at
least one race each season for two consecutive years (2005-2006).
Seventh
Jeff Burton finished fourth in the 2006 Neighborhood Excellence 400 presented by Bank of America at Dover
International Speedway and climbed from eighth to seventh in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings.
Burton climbed to his highest points ranking in 2006 and is at his highest points ranking since he ranked fourth
after Las Vegas in March 2003, 119 races ago. He has scored eight top-10 finishes in 13 races this season. One
year ago he ranked 16th in the point standings. Burton has competed in 24 races at Pocono Raceway and has
scored 11 top-10 finishes. His last Pocono top 10 came there in July 2003 when he finished sixth. That was his
only top-10 finish in his last seven races there. He finished 19th in this race one year ago and 37th there last July.
While he has led in 13 races at Pocono, Burton has never led more than 17 laps in a race there. Burton has a
17.833 average finish at Pocono Raceway.
Eighth
Kevin Harvick finished third in the 2006 Neighborhood Excellence 400 presented by Bank of America at
Dover International Speedway and climbed from ninth to eighth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings.
Harvick has ranked among the top 10 in the last seven races, since Texas in April. One year ago he ranked 10th
in the point standings. Harvick has scored six top-10 finishes in 2006. He has competed in 10 races at Pocono
Raceway posting three top-10 finishes, including both races there in 2005. He finished eighth in this race one year
ago and sixth there last July. He has an 18.3 average finish at Pocono Raceway. He has never led at Pocono has
posted two DNFs there. Harvick has finished on the lead lap in four of his last five races at Pocono including both
races there in 2005.
Ninth
Jeff Gordon finished 12th in the 2006 Neighborhood Excellence 400 presented by Bank of America at Dover
International Speedway and dropped from seventh to ninth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. It
marked his fourth finish outside the top-10 in the last five races. Gordon ranked 11th in the point standings at this
point one year ago, 350 points behind then point leader Jimmie Johnson. He is now 428 points behind current
point leader Johnson one year later. Gordon has competed in 26 races at Pocono Raceway, scoring three victories
and 18 top-10 finishes. His last Pocono victory came in July 1998. His three victories at Pocono are the most
the among active drivers, tying Dale Jarrett and Bobby Labonte. Gordon finished ninth in this race one year ago
and 13th there last July. Gordon has a 10.115 average finish at Pocono Raceway. He has led 841 laps at Pocono,
ranking first all-time there in laps led. He has scored three top-10 finishes in his last four races there, all top-15
finishes. Gordon has won two of the five races at Pocono in which he led the most laps. He has finished on the
lead lap in his last four races at Pocono.
10th
Kyle Busch finished fifth in the 2006 Neighborhood Excellence 400 presented by Bank of America at Dover
International Speedway and remained 10th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. This was his third
top-10 finish in his last four races. Busch has scored seven top-10 finishes in 13 races this season. One year ago
he ranked 19th in the point standings. Busch has scored nine top-15 finishes in the 13 races in 2006. He has
competed in two races at Pocono finishing fourth in this race one year ago and 39th there last July. He has a 21.5
average finish at Pocono. He has never led at Pocono and posted his first Pocono DNF there last July.
