The Tricky Triangle no longer unknown territory

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Pocono this weekend. (Getty Images)
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Pocono this weekend. (Getty Images)

It’s no longer unknown territory. This week the NASCAR Sprint Cup series returns to Pocono Raceway for Sunday’s Pennsylvania 400; but unlike the stop in June, teams will have notes and experience with the newly paved speedway.

To pick a favorite look no farther back than last week’s stop at the Brickyard and those who did well here in June. The 2.5 mile tracks have similar flat corners and what worked well last week, and in June, should work well this week.

That’s why this week’s favorite has to be Jimmie Johnson. Johnson dominated last week at Indy and there’s no reason the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 juggernaut won’t continue this week.

“I feel that from a performance standpoint, we’re as strong as we’ve ever been,” Johnson said after his record fourth win at the Brickyard. “We’ve had issues late in a race that’s cost us track position for a variety of reasons and that’s the part that we need to make sure is buttoned up before the Chase starts and carry that through the Chase.” MORE>>>

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. 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.