When the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series visited Pocono in June, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was not among the favorites. To the surprise of many though, Earnhardt was able to get the lead away with four laps to go from arguably the best driver on the day, Brad Keselowski who led a race high 95 laps. From there Earnhardt was able to hold off Keselowski and score his second win of the season, the 21st of his career and his first at the track known as the “Tricky Triangle” .
The NASCAR Sprint Cup series returns to Pocono Raceway this weekend for this Sunday’s GoBowling.com 400 and Earnhardt is looking to become the seventh driver in series history to sweep both races in a single season at Pocono Raceway. If he does he will be joining Bobby Allison (1982), Bill Elliott (1985), Tim Richmond (1986), Bobby Labonte (1999), Jimmie Johnson (2004) and Denny Hamlin (2006). Not since 2002 at Talladega has Earnhardt Jr. swept both races at a track in a single season.
Friday prior to the first practice session Earnhardt took time to meet with the media. He talked about the announcement this week of his new crew chief for next season and his chances to sweep Sunday among other things. MORE>>>
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
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