The Cup Series traveled is back in the United States for a race at the “Tricky Triangle.” Pocono Raceway is a 2.5-mile, flat track. It falls into the intermediate track category, but the draft will come into play and the pit strategies will be similar to what is used on a road course. There are a few drivers who have solved the tricks to Pocono, so those are the drivers we will want in our lineups this week. The Great American Getaway 400 can be seen Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
PRACTICE SPEEDS FOR POCONO
NASCAR had their normal schedule this week. The teams were broken into two group based on the metrics from the race in Mexico. Each group was given 25 minutes to dial in their cars for The Great American Getaway 400. Pocono is a 2.5-mile, flat, triangle-shaped track. Most of the teams did not have time to make many long-runs in practice. We will have to use the single-lap runs from practice and the five-lap average speeds for our picks Sunday.
Here are the speeds from Saturday’s practice at Pocono Raceway…
STRATEGY FOR POCONO
Pocono Raceway is a tough track for crew chiefs to dial in the set-up to make their drivers happy. Some teams have figured out the Tricky Triangle better than others. I will consider these drivers for my lineup first. There have also been four races on large intermediate tracks over the last two months (Texas, Kansas, Charlotte and Michigan). I made my final picks based on the drivers who have had speed on the large intermediate tracks this season and have a history of running well at Pocono Raceway.
Here are the picks for The Great American Getaway 400…
DENNY HAMLIN (4): Pocono ranks as the best track for Hamlin. He has seven wins (it would be eight but his car failed post-race inspection after his win in 2022) and he has led 858 laps (300 more than any driver in the field) and he has the best Driver Rating (108.7). Hamlin just won on a similar track in Michigan. I will use the No. 11 car Sunday and hope Hamlin can “Beat Your Favorite Driver” once again.
CHRISTOPHER BELL (4): I am quickly running out of allocations with Bell. I am going to need him at some of the road courses because he has become the second-best driver on those tracks (behind Shane van Gisbergen). Bell had power-steering problems in practice, but they fixed it and the No. 20 car looked fast on the five-lap run Bell made in practice. He starts 9th and has the speed and track position to score a lot of points for your Fantasy Live team.
TY GIBBS (6): Gibbs is starting to heat up. He had his best race of the year at the last large intermediate track. Gibbs started 8th and finished 3rd at Michigan. He also had one of the best cars in Mexico. I believe in momentum in NASCAR. Gibbs won the pole, led 21 laps and then his engine expired at Pocono last year. He also led 4 laps and finished 5th in 2023. Pocono is a good track for Gibbs and he has some momentum heading into the race. I will take a chance with the No. 54 car at the Tricky Triangle.
TYLER REDDICK (2): This was the toughest pick I have made all year. Should I use another allocation with Reddick since I only have two left or should I take a chance with his teammate Chase Briscoe? Reddick has the best average finish at Pocono, his car was 4th-fastest in his group and he starts in the top-10. I will use Reedick and hope he does what he always does at Pocono (finish in the top-five). Play Briscoe if you do not want to use another allocations with Reddick.
CHASE ELLIOTT (7): Elliott will have some momentum after his podium finish in Mexico. Pocono has been a good track for Elliott. He won the race in 2022, finished 10th in 2023 and 9th last year. That is an average finishing position of 6.6 in the Gen-7 car at Pocono. Elliott posted the 3rd-fastest speed in practice. Elliott will have a good chance to add another top-10 finish at Pocono to his resume this week.
(GARAGE PICK) CHASE BRISCOE (8): I originally had Ryan Blaney in this spot, but he will start in the back today. I looked and only one driver (Erik Jones) has scored Stage Points in the Gen-7 car from a starting position outside the top-30. I will play it safe and use Briscoe over Blaney.
Good luck and be sure to follow me on X (Twitter) @MrFantasyNASCAR. I will send out a Tweet during the race to let you know if I plan to swap out one of my drivers for my Garage pick.