Pocono Raceway
Track data:
Race #: 20 of 36 (7-23-06)
Track Size: 2.5 Mile
Event: Pennsylvania 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 Short 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:
Last year's event pole winner: Jamie McMurray 168.761 mph 6-22-05 53.330 seconds
Last year's event winner: Kurt Busch 125.283 6-24-05 4 hr, 03 min, 03 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) Denny Hamlin (1)
Races won from the pole: 10 of 57 events (18%)
Races won from in top 10: 41 of 57 events (72%)
Races won from outside top 10: 16 of 57 events (28%)
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 Update
There have been 19 different Bud Pole winners in the 20 races at Pocono since June 1996. Qualifying was
canceled in June 2002 due to weather.
Track Update
There have been 12 different race winners in the past 13 races at Pocono. Jimmie Johnson swept both
Pocono races in 2004 and is the only repeat winner in the 13 races since 2000.
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. Ryan Newman won the 2003 Pennsylvnia 500 in a Dodge - posting just the fourth Dodge
victory there.
The Money
Purse $4,936,658
NASCAR NEXTEL Leader Bonus $110,000
Tire/Fuel Data
Goodyear Tire Codes: Left-side - D-4030; Right-side - D-4032 (change from June 2006)
Other Nextel Cup Tracks With Same Tire Combinations: None
Estimated Pit Window: every 36-38 laps, based on fuel mileage
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.
Would You Believe?
Though there have been 12 different race winners in the past 13 races at Pocono - there have been only
six car owners to post victories in that period. Of those - only Rick Hendrick has posted multiple victories with
the same driver. here have been three car owner sweeps in the six seasons since 1999.
Roger Penske (three: Jeremy Mayfield – June 2000; Rusty Wallace – July 2000 and Ryan Newman - July
2003)
Joe Gibbs (three: Bobby Labonte – July 2001, Tony Stewart – June 2003 and Denny Hamlin June 2006)
Rick Hendrick (two: Jimmie Johnson – both 2004)
Jack Roush (two: Carl Edwards – June 2005 and Kurt Busch – July 2005)
Robert Yates (two: Ricky Rudd – June 2001 and Dale Jarrett – June 2002)
Ray Evernham (one: Bill Elliott – July 2002)
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 57 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.
Thirty-four different drivers have won Bud Poles at Pocono; 11 have more than one.
Ken Schrader and Bill Elliott lead all other drivers, each with five Bud Poles at Pocono.
Jamie McMurray is the defending Bud Pole winner for the Pennsylvania 500.
Twenty-seven different drivers have won races at Pocono; 16 have won more than once.
Bill Elliott leads all other drivers with five victories at Pocono.
Kurt Busch is the defending race winner of the Pennsylvania 500.
The pole position has been the most productive at Pocono, producing 10 race winners.
Thirty-three of 57 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Pocono have been won from the first four starting
positions.
Thirteen of the last 18 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.
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 seven races.
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).
Still Trying
Mark Martin leads all drivers at Pocono, with and 19 top-five and 27 top-10 finishes in 39 races, yet has not
posted a victory at the Pennsylvania speedway. He has six second-place finishes there, most recently in August
2004.
Pocono Milestones
Greg Biffle is expected to make his 125th consecutive NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start at Pocono.
Starting Up Front May be Important at Pocono Raceway
Five of the last 11 races at Pocono Raceway have been won from a front-row starting position including the
June race won by rookie Denny Hamlin from the Bud Pole.
Pocono Bud Pole Winner
Ken Schrader leads all active full-time drivers with five Bud Poles at Pocono. Schrader has not had a top-10
start in his last nine races at Pocono. His last Bud Pole came there in June 1995. Bill Elliott also scored five Bud
Poles at Pocono.
Pocono Streaks
Brian Vickers has posted five straight top-10 starts at Pocono Raceway, the longest current streak.
Jamie McMurray has posted four straight top-10 starts at Pocono Raceway.
Kurt Busch has posted four straight starts of third or better at Pocono Raceway.
Jimmie Johnson has posted nine straight top-15 finishes at Pocono Raceway.
Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch have each posted top-10 finishes in their last two races at Pocono Raceway,
the longest streak among active drivers.
Owner Dominance at Pocono Raceway
Rick Hendrick has 10 victories at Pocono Raceway, the most of all car owners. Those 10 victories were
scored by five different drivers led by Jeff Gordon (three), Tim Richmond (three), Jimmie Johnson (two) and
Terry Labonte and Geoffrey Bodine (one each).
Leading The Way
Jeff Gordon has competed in 27 races at Pocono Raceway. He has led 841 laps in those races, the most of all
drivers.
Pocono Starters
Only Ricky Rudd (53) and Terry Labonte (51) have competed in more than 50 races at Pocono Raceway.
Kyle Petty has competed in 48 races at Pocono Raceway, the most by any active full-time driver.
Bud Pole Winners Galore
There have been 19 different Bud Pole winners in the last 20 races at Pocono, since July 1996. Qualifying
was cancelled there in June 2002.
Would You Believe?
Mark Martin finished second at Pocono six times in 39 races but has never visited victory lane at the
Pennsylvania superspeedway.
Pocono Raceway Standouts
Bill Elliott leads all drivers with five victories at Pocono Raceway. Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte and Jeff
Gordon lead all active drivers with three wins at the Pennsylvania superspeedway.
Mark Martin leads all drivers with 19 top-five finishes in 39 races at Pocono Raceway.
Mark Martin leads all drivers with 27 top-10 finishes at Pocono Raceway, the most among all drivers.
Denny Hamlin leads all drivers with a 1.0 starting average at Pocono Raceway. Hamlin won in his first race
there in June.
Brian Vickers has a 4.6 starting average at Pocono posting top-10 starts in all five of his races at Pocono
Raceway.
Jimmie Johnson has a 8.33 finishing average in his nine races at Pocono Raceway, the best of all drivers
with more than one start there.
Who’s Hot?
Jimmie Johnson has scored a top-15 finish in 17 of the 19 races in 2006. His other two finishes were
30th or worse.
Jeff Burton has posted 13 straight top-15 finishes since Martinsville.
Greg Biffle has scored more points in the last 10 races than any other driver.
Kasey Kahne has won four races in 2006, the most of all drivers.
Matt Kenseth is the only driver to score 10 top-five finishes in the 19 races this season.
Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to score 15 top-10 finishes in the first 19 races of 2006.
Greg Biffle is the only driver to lead at least one lap in 15 of the 19 races this season.
Greg Biffle has scored top-15 finishes in nine of the last 10 races.
Matt Kenseth ranks second in the point standings. After 19 races one year ago, he ranked 16th.
Kyle Busch has scored five straight top-15 finishes.
Top 10 in Points at This Track
Point
Standings Driver Starts Wins Best Top 5s Top 10s
1st Johnson, Jimmie 9 2 1 (2 Times) 3 5
2nd Kenseth, Matt 13 *** 3 (1 Time) 3 6
3rd Burton, Jeff 25 *** 2 (2 Times) 6 12
4th Busch, Kyle 3 *** 4 (1 Time) 1 1
5th Martin, Mark 39 *** 2 (6 Times) 19 27
6th Kahne, Kasey 5 *** 3 (1 Time) 1 2
7th Earnhardt Jr., Dale 13 *** 2 (1 Time) 3 4
8th Harvick, Kevin 11 *** 6 (2 Times) *** 3
9th Gordon, Jeff 27 3 1 (3 Times) 12 18
10th Biffle, Greg 7 *** 4 (1 Time) 1 2
First
Jimmie Johnson finished ninth in the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway.
He remained first in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings, 68 points ahead of second-place Matt Kenseth.
Johnson has scored 15 top-10 finishes in 19 races this season, the most of all drivers. Johnson's has three victories
(Daytona, Las Vegas and Talladega) second only to Kasey Kahne who has four. In 2006, Johnson has scored 17
top-15s in the first 19 races, the only driver to do so. Johnson ranked first in the point standings after Race No. 19
in 2005, then 77 points ahead of second-place Greg Biffle. Johnson has ranked among the top-10 for 88 straight
races, since Atlanta in March 2004. Johnson has competed in nine races at Pocono Raceway scoring two victories
and five top-10 finishes. Both of Johnson's Pocono victories came in 2004. Johnson has an 8.333 average finish at
Pocono, the best finishing average among all drivers with more than one start. Johnson has scored top-15 finishes
in all nine of his races at Pocono Raceway, the longest current streak. He finished 12th in this race one year ago
and 10th there this past June. Johnson has led in four of his races at Pocono. He has been running at the finish in
all nine 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 14th in the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway
scoring his 15th top-15 finish in 19 races this season. Kenseth has scored victories at California and Dover in
2006. Kenseth remained second in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings for the eighth straight race. One
year ago he ranked 16th in the point standings after 19 races. Kenseth has ranked among the top-five in the point
standings since his victory in Race No. 2 at California, 18 straight races. He has competed in 13 races at Pocono
Raceway scoring six top-10 finishes there. He has never won at Pocono. His best Pocono finish of third came
there in June 2003. Kenseth has been running at the finish in all 13 of his races at Pocono Raceway. He finished
36th in this race one year ago, his worst finish at Pocono Raceway and fifth there in June. Kenseth has led in six
of his 13 races at Pocono, but has never led more than 10 laps in a single race. Kenseth has a 15.384 finishing
average at Pocono Raceway. Kenseth has won at least one race each season for five consecutive years (2002-
2006).
Third
Jeff Burton finished seventh in the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway
and climbed from fourth to third in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Burton moved to his highest
points position since he ranked third after Las Vegas in March 2002. Burton ranked 21st after Race No. six at
Martinsville. Burton has scored 13 straight top-15 finishes, extending a streak that began at Texas in April. He
has scored 12 top-10 finishes in 19 races this season, second only to Johnson who has 15. One year ago he ranked
17th in the point standings. Burton has competed in 25 races at Pocono Raceway and has scored 12 top-10
finishes there. He has never won at Pocono Raceway. His best Pocono finish of second came there twice, most
recently in July 2000. He finished 37th in this race one year ago, his worst finish at Pocono Raceway, and ninth
there in June. That was his only top-10 finish in his last five races at Pocono Raceway. He has led in 14 races at
Pocono Raceway. Burton has a 17.480 average finish at Pocono Raceway.
Fourth
Kyle Busch finished first in the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway and
climbed from eighth to fourth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. One year ago he ranked 19th after
19 races. It was his 10th top-10 finish in 19 races in 2006. It marked his fifth straight top-15 finish, extending a
streak that began at Michigan. Busch has posted just one DNF in 2006, an accident at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
He has climbed from 12th to fourth in the last three races. Busch has competed in just three races at Pocono
Raceway finishing 39th in this race one year ago and 22nd there in June. His 39th-place finish in this race one
year ago is his only DNF at Pocono. He has never led at Pocono Raceway. Busch is just 124 points ahead of 11thplace
Tony Stewart with seven races left in the race to the Chase.
Fifth
Mark Martin finished fourth in the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway and
climbed from sixth to fifth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. At this point one year ago he ranked
seventh in the point standings. He has had only one DNF (Talladega in October 2005) in the 44 races since Dover
in June 2005. Martin has competed in 39 races at Pocono Raceway, scoring 27 top-10 finishes there. He has never
won at Pocono Raceway but has finished second six times, most recently in August 2004. He finished third in this
race one year ago and 17th there in June. He has scored top-10 finishes in three of his last four races at Pocono
Raceway. Martin has a 10.666 average finish at Pocono Raceway, ranking third among active drivers in average
finish. He has led in 25 races at Pocono Raceway but led the most laps in just one of those races (July 1996-121
laps). Martin has not won a race since his victory at Kansas in October 2005, 25 races ago. Martin is just 120
points ahead of 11th-place Tony Stewart with seven races left in the race to the Chase.
Sixth
Kasey Kahne finished eighth in the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway.
He dropped from fifth to sixth in the point standings. Kahne has scored four victories (Atlanta, Texas, Lowe's and
Michigan) in 2006, the most of all drivers. Kahne has scored 12 top-15 finishes in the first 19 races in 2006. One
year ago he ranked 21st in the point standings. Kahne has competed in five races at Pocono Raceway finishing
27th in this race one year ago and seventh there in June. Kahne finished 27th in both races at Pocono in 2005.
That remains his worst finish at Pocono. Kahne has a 15.6 average finish at Pocono Raceway and has led in two of
his five races there. Kahne has won at least one race each season for two consecutive years (2005-2006). Kahne is
just 114 points ahead of 11th-place Tony Stewart with seven races left in the race to the Chase.
Seventh
Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 43rd in the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway
and dropped from third to seventh in the point standings. It marked his worst finish in 2006 and second DNF of
the season. One year ago he ranked 13th in the point standings. Earnhardt Jr. has scored 14 top-15 finishes in the
19 races in 2006. His only victory in 2006 came at Richmond. He has competed in 13 races Pocono Raceway
scoring four top-10 finishes; three were top-fives. Earnhardt Jr. has a 16.923 average finish at Pocono Raceway.
He has led in just four of his 13 races at Pocono Raceway. Earnhardt Jr. has been running at the finish in all 13 of
his races at Pocono Raceway. He finished 32nd in this race one year ago and 14th there this past June. He has not
scored a top-10 finish in his last four races at Pocono. Earnhardt Jr. has won at least one race 2000-2006 seven
consecutive years. Earnhardt Jr. is just 97 points ahead of 11th-place Tony Stewart with seven races left in the race
to the Chase.
Eighth
Kevin Harvick finished fifth in the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire 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 13 races, since Texas in April. One year ago he ranked 14th in the point standings. Harvick has
scored 10 top-10 finishes in 2006. He has competed in 11 races at Pocono Raceway scoring three top-10 finishes.
One year ago he tied his best Pocono finish of sixth set in July 2002. He finished 13th there in June, his third
straight top-15 finish at Pocono. He has never led at Pocono Raceway. He has been running at the finish in all but
two of his races at Pocono. Harvick has a 17.8 average finish at Pocono Raceway. Harvick is just 77 points ahead
of 11th-place Tony Stewart with seven races left in the race to the Chase.
Ninth
Jeff Gordon finished 15th in the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway,
scoring his fourth top-15 finish in the last five races. Gordon has scored two victories in 2006, winning at Infineon
and Chicago. Both of those victories came in the last four races. He climbed from 10th to ninth in the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup point standings. His four DNFs in 2006 are the most of any driver in the top-10. Gordon has scored
12 top-15 finishes in 19 races in 2006. Gordon has three victories and 18 top-10 finishes in 27 races at Pocono
Raceway. Gordon finished 13th in this race one year ago and 34th there in June. Gordon's last Pocono victory
came there in July 1998, 16 Pocono races ago. Gordon is just 11 points ahead of 11th-place Tony Stewart with
seven races left in the race to the Chase.
10th
Greg Biffle finished third in the 2006 Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway,
scoring his ninth top-15 finish in the last 10 races. He climbed from 11th to 10th in the NASCAR NEXTEL
Cup point standings. One year ago he ranked second in the point standings. Biffle has scored more points than
any other driver in the last 10 races. He scored 113 more points than point leader Jimmie Johnson in the 10-race
period, climbing from 23rd since Talladega. More than half of those 113 points came as a result of leading in 15
of the 19 races this season. His 95 lap leader bonus points are the most of any driver. He has scored 60 more lap
leader bonus points than Jimmie Johnson who has scored 35. He has competed in seven races at Pocono Raceway
scoring just two top-10 finishes, Biffle finished 17th in this race one year ago and sixth there in June. He has a
16.428 finishing average at Pocono Raceway. He has led in three of his seven races at Pocono Raceway but has
never led the most laps in a race there. Biffle has won a race each season 2003-2006, four consecutive years.
Biffle is just 11 points ahead of 11th-place Tony Stewart with seven races left in the race to the Chase. Twelfth to
10th in the point standings are a mere 18 points apart.
