Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, going into the M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 on Sunday, July 24 at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
At Pocono Raceway:
Track Qualifying Record:
Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 183.438 mph, 49.063 secs., August 1, 2014
Track Race Record (200 laps/400 miles):
Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 145.384 mph, (03:26:21), June 12, 2011
HISTORY
Opened in 1968 as a three-quarter-mile track, Pocono Raceway is operated by the family-owned Mattco Inc, started by Joseph II and Rose Mattioli.Pocono Raceway held the first race on the 2.5-mile track in 1971.The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway was on August 4, 1974, and the event was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty (Dodge, 115.593 mph).The 2.5-mile track was repaved during the fall of 2011.2012 marked the first season the NASCAR Cup Series races at Pocono were scheduled for 400 miles.Prior to 2012, all NASCAR Cup Series races were 500 miles at Pocono Raceway.There have been 88 NASCAR Cup Series races at Pocono Raceway, one race from 1974 through 1981, and two per year from 1982-2021.2020 marked the first season the NASCAR Cup Series held a doubleheader weekend at Pocono Raceway.The 2022 season is the first season since 1981, the NASCAR Cup Series will only compete at the track once during the 36-race scheduled season.
STARTS
A total of 361 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway; 264 have competed in more than one Cup Series race at Pocono.Ricky Rudd leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Pocono Raceway with 55.Kevin Harvick leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers with 42 starts at Pocono Raceway.A total of 34 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have made their series debut at Pocono Raceway.The most recent and only active driver to make his series debut at Pocono Raceway is Bubba Wallace (June 11, 2017).Of the 34 drivers that made their first NASCAR Cup Series career start at Pocono Raceway, Jan Opperman posted the best finish with an eighth-place result on August 4, 1974. Opperman started in the 14th position.David Pearson (six starts) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Pocono Raceway with a 4.667.Denny Hamlin (32 starts) leads all active series drivers in average starting position at Pocono with a 7.781.
Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Pocono Raceway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversAvg StartRacesRankActive DriversAvg StartRaces1David Pearson4.66761Denny Hamlin7.781322Cale Yarborough7.556182Kurt Busch10.195413Alan Kulwicki7.769133Brad Keselowski11.292244Denny Hamlin7.781324Kyle Busch11.353345Benny Parsons8.667215Joey Logano11.615266Neil Bonnett8.941176Kyle Larson14.286147Daniel Suarez9.50067Martin Truex Jr14.344328Mark Martin9.741548Daniel Suarez14.400109Bobby Allison9.857219Chase Elliott14.5001210Tim Richmond9.8571410Ryan Blaney14.66712
POLES
A total of 46 different drivers have won the pole at Pocono Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series.Eleven of the 46 Pocono Raceway Cup Series pole winners (23.9%) are active this weekend.Active Pocono Pole Winners (11)PolesSeasonsKyle Busch42017 sweep, 2015, 2010Denny Hamlin32014, 2006 sweepKurt Busch22015, 2011Joey Logano22012, 2011Kevin Harvick12019William Byron12019Daniel Suarez12018Ryan Blaney12018Brad Keselowski12016Martin Truex Jr12016Kyle Larson12014NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott (1984, 1985 sweep, 1995 and 2002) and Ken Schrader (1989, 1992, 1993 sweep and 1995) lead the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Pocono Raceway with five poles each.Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in Pocono Raceway poles with four (Spring 2010, Fall 2015, 2017 sweep).NASCAR Hall of Famer Buddy Baker won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series pole at Pocono Raceway in 1974 with a speed of 144.122 mph (Ford). Baker finished second in the event.Of the 46 Cup Series pole winners at Pocono Raceway, only six have won consecutive poles: Bill Elliott (1984-85), Mark Martin (1990-91), Ken Schrader (1993 sweep), Denny Hamlin (2006 sweep), Joey Logano (fall 2011 and spring 2012) and Kyle Busch (2017 sweep).Bill Elliott holds the record for most consecutive Cup Series poles at Pocono Raceway with three straight from the Fall of 1984 and both races in 1985.Youngest Cup Series Pocono pole winner: Joey Logano (August 7, 2011 — 21 years, 2 months, 14 days).Oldest Cup Series Pocono pole winner: David Pearson (June 10, 1984 — 49 years, 5 months, 19 days).Four drivers have posted their first-career NASCAR Cup Series pole at Pocono Raceway: Harry Gant (1979), Casey Mears (2004), Kyle Larson (2014) and Daniel Suárez (2018).Eight different manufacturers have won a NASCAR Cup Series pole at Pocono Raceway; led by Chevrolet with 34, followed by Ford (18), Toyota (9), Dodge (8), Pontiac (6), Buick (2), American Motors Company and Oldsmobile (each have one).
WINS
A total of 39 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Pocono Raceway.10 of the 39 NASCAR Cup Series Pocono Raceway winners (25.6%) are entered this weekend.Active Pocono Winners (10)WinsSeasonsDenny Hamlin62020, 2019, 2010, 2009, 2006 sweepKyle Busch42021, 2019, 2018, 2017Kurt Busch32016, 2007, 2005Martin Truex Jr22018, 2015Alex Bowman12021Kevin Harvick12020Ryan Blaney12017Chris Buescher12016Joey Logano12012Brad Keselowski12011NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon (1996, 1997, 1998, 2007, 2011 and 2012) and Denny Hamlin (2006 sweep, 2009, 2010, 2019, 2020) lead the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Pocono Raceway with six victories each.NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty won the first NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway in 1974. Petty ran 500 miles in 4 hours, 9 minutes and 9 seconds with an average speed of 115.593 mph driving a Dodge.24 different drivers have multiple series wins at Pocono Raceway; including four active drivers: Denny Hamlin (six), Kurt Busch (three), Kyle Busch (three) and Martin Truex Jr. (two).Eight drivers have posted consecutive wins at Pocono Raceway: Bobby Allison (1982 sweep and Spring 1983), Bill Elliott (1985 sweep), Tim Richmond (1986 sweep and spring 1987), Bobby Labonte (1999 sweep), Jimmie Johnson (2004 sweep), Denny Hamlin (2006 sweep and 2009-2010), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2014 sweep), Kyle Busch (2018-2019). Richmond and Allison have won the most consecutive races at Pocono in the Cup Series with each driver putting up three straight.Youngest Cup Series Pocono winner: Joey Logano (June 10, 2012 — 22 years, 0 months, 17 days).Oldest Cup Series Pocono winner: Harry Gant (June 17, 1990 — 50 years, 5 months, 7 days).A total of four NASCAR Cup Series drivers have posted their first career win at Pocono Raceway; three of which are active this weekend:First-Time Winners at Pocono RacewayDateRyan BlaneySunday, June 11, 2017Chris BuescherMonday, August 1, 2016Denny HamlinSunday, June 11, 2006Jeremy MayfieldSunday, June 21, 199816 of the 88 (18.2%) NASCAR Cup Series races at Pocono Raceway have been won from the pole (14) or first starting position (two); the most recent was Kyle Busch on July 30, 2017.The two NASCAR Cup Series races at Pocono Raceway that were won from the first starting position after qualifying was cancelled were the 2009 race (Tony Stewart) and the 2013 race (Jimmie Johnson).The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (16) than any other starting position at Pocono Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series — a 18.2% winning percentage.The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Pocono is 29th, by Carl Edwards in the spring of 2005.
NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Pocono Raceway
Starting PositionWinsWinning %Starting PositionWinsWinning %11618.18%1355.68%21011.36%1422.27%31011.36%1522.27%4910.23%1622.27%544.55%1822.27%622.27%1922.27%722.27%2222.27%833.41%2311.14%944.55%2722.27%1011.14%2811.14%1133.41%2911.14%1222.27% Additional Starting Position StatsWinning %WinsWinning from the First Starting Position:18.18%16Winning from the Front Row:29.55%26Winning from a Top-Five Starting Position:55.68%49Winning from a Top-10 Starting Position:69.32%61Winning After Starting Outside the Top 10:30.68%27Winning After Starting Outside the Top 20:7.95%7 Denny Hamlin (2006) is the only active driver to win at Pocono in his first appearance.AJ Allmendinger leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Cup Series starts at Pocono without visiting Victory Lane at 21.A total of 26 different organizations have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono Raceway.Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Pocono with 18: Jeff Gordon (six), Tim Richmond (three), Jimmie Johnson (three), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (two), Kasey Kahne (one), Geoff Bodine (one), Terry Labonte (one) and Alex Bowman (one).Eight different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono; led by Chevrolet with 33 victories; followed by Ford with 24, Toyota (11), Dodge (seven), Pontiac (six), Buick (four), Mercury (two) and Oldsmobile (one).
ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS
Runner-Up Finishes
A total of 38 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished runner-up at Pocono Raceway.NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin leads the NASCAR Cup Series in runner-up finishes at Pocono Raceway with seven second-place finishes.Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick lead all active drivers in runner-up finishes at Pocono with five each.
Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Pocono Raceway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversRunner-UpsRankActive DriversRunner-Ups1Mark Martin71Kevin Harvick52Jeff Gordon6Kurt Busch53Kevin Harvick53Brad Keselowski4Kurt Busch54Kyle Busch3Richard Petty55Kyle Larson2
Top-Five Finishes
A total of 78 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished in the top-five at Pocono Raceway.NASCAR Hall of Famers Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon lead the NASCAR Cup Series in top fives at Pocono with 20 each.Kevin Harvick leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top fives at Pocono with 15 in 42 starts.
Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Pocono Raceway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversTop FivesRankActive DriversTop Fives1Jeff Gordon201Kevin Harvick15 Mark Martin202Denny Hamlin143Kevin Harvick15Kurt Busch144Bill Elliott144Brad Keselowski11Denny Hamlin14Kyle Busch11 Harry Gant14Kurt Busch14
Top-10 Finishes
A total of 128 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished in the top-10 at Pocono Raceway.NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin leads the series in top-10 finishes at Pocono Raceway with 34 top 10s.Kevin Harvick leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers with 22 top-10 finishes at Pocono Raceway.
Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Pocono Raceway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversTop FivesRankActive DriversTop Fives1Mark Martin341Kevin Harvick222Jeff Gordon322Denny Hamlin213Tony Stewart24 Kurt Busch214Bill Elliott224Kyle Busch18Dale Earnhardt225Brad Keselowski15 Kevin Harvick22 Ricky Rudd22
Average Finish
William Byron leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Pocono with an 9.125 in eight starts.
Top 10 in Average Finishing Positions at Pocono Raceway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversAvg FinishRacesRankActive DriversAvg FinishRaces1William Byron9.12581William Byron 9.12582Davey Allison9.769132Brad Keselowski 10.583243Tim Richmond9.857143Denny Hamlin 11.125324Daniel Hemric10.00024Ryan Blaney 11.417125Skip Manning10.00025Kyle Larson 11.429146Jeff Gordon10.170476Kevin Harvick 11.738427Brad Keselowski10.583247Daniel Suarez 13.33368Denny Hamlin11.125328Kurt Busch 14.390419Mark Martin11.352549Erik Jones 14.4001010Ryan Blaney11.4171210Martin Truex Jr 14.71932
LAP LEADERS
A total of 131 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have led at least one lap at Pocono Raceway.
Top 10 Lap Leaders at Pocono Raceway (All-Time)
RankAll-Time DriversRacesLedCompleted% Led1Jeff Gordon471,0408,53512%2Geoff Bodine428096,79912%3Denny Hamlin327975,14215%4Rusty Wallace447547,51010%5Jimmie Johnson387436,38112%6Darrell Waltrip456187,4048%7Kurt Busch415966,9099%8Dale Jarrett425247,4817%9Kyle Busch345225,25610%10Richard Petty304974,97110%
Top 10 Lap Leaders at Pocono Raceway (Active)
RankActive DriversRacesLedCompleted% Led1Denny Hamlin327975,14215%2Kurt Busch415966,9099%3Kyle Busch345225,25610%4Joey Logano263044,1867%5Kevin Harvick422776,9924%6Martin Truex Jr322355,1915%7Brad Keselowski242273,7836%8Kyle Larson141162,1625%9William Byron8701,1876%10Aric Almirola19672,5223%
NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon leads the series in laps led with 1,040 laps led in 47 starts.
Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in laps led at Pocono Raceway with 797 laps led in 32 starts.Most laps led in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway by the race winner was 175 of the 200 scheduled laps (87.5%) on August 5, 2007, by race winner Kurt Busch.Most laps led in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway by a driver that did not win the race was 154 of the scheduled 200 laps (77%) on June 9, 1985, by Geoff Bodine; he finished fourth.The fewest laps led in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway by the race winner is just two laps led on August 2, 2015, by Matt Kenseth; he started the race from the seventh starting position. Kenseth led one lap (88) earlier in the race and took the lead on the final lap to win the event.
TRACK SPECIFIC STATS
Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway is the July 23, 2000 race, that was won by Rusty Wallace over Jeff Burton with a margin of victory of 0.126 second.
Top 10 Closest Margins of Victory at Pocono Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series
RankMargin of VictoryWinnerRunner-UpDate10.126Rusty WallaceJeff BurtonSunday, July 23, 200020.139Ryan BlaneyKevin HarvickSunday, June 11, 201730.190Dale JarrettJeff GordonSunday, July 16, 199540.228Dale Earnhardt JrKevin HarvickSunday, August 3, 201450.280Rusty WallaceDale EarnhardtSunday, June 12, 199460.300Rusty WallaceRicky RuddSunday, July 21, 199670.307Ryan NewmanKurt BuschSunday, July 27, 200380.340Bobby LabonteJeff GordonSunday, June 20, 199990.340Jeremy MayfieldJeff GordonSunday, June 21, 1998100.341Denny HamlinErik JonesSunday, July 28, 2019Since the advent of electronic scoring the largest margin of victory (MOV) in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway is the August 2, 2015 race, that was won by Matt Kenseth over Brad Keselowski with a margin of victory of 9.012 seconds.There have been four NASCAR Cup Series races resulting with NASCAR Overtime at Pocono.
NASCAR Overtime Races at Pocono Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series
Scheduled LapsActual LapsNASCAR OvertimeWinnerDate1601633Denny HamlinSunday, July 28, 20191601644Kyle BuschSunday, July 29, 20182002044Denny HamlinSunday, June 6, 20102002033Kurt BuschSunday, July 24, 20052002011Carl EdwardsSunday, June 12, 2005Seven of the 88 Cup Series races at Pocono Raceway have been shortened due to weather conditions.
Weather Shortened Races at Pocono Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series
Scheduled DateScheduledActualFewer LapsWinnersSunday, July 31, 2016160138-22Chris BuescherSunday, August 5, 201216098-62Jeff GordonSunday, June 10, 2007200106-94Jeff GordonSunday, July 28, 2002200175-25Bill ElliottSunday, July 21, 1991200179-21Rusty WallaceSunday, July 20, 1986200150-50Tim RichmondSunday, August 4, 1974200192-8Richard PettyQualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono Raceway six times; twice the driver who started first after qualifying was cancelled won the event.
NASCAR Cup Series Races with Qualifying Cancelled at Pocono Raceway
DateStarted First Due To Qualifying CancelledFinishing PositionSunday, June 9, 2013Jimmie Johnson1Sunday, June 9, 2002Sterling Marlin4Sunday, June 6, 1982Terry Labonte5Sunday, June 7, 2009Tony Stewart1Monday, August 3, 2009Tony Stewart10Qualifying has also been cancelled the last four races (2020-2021) due to pandemic restrictions.
FEMALE COMPETITOR STATS
Two female drivers have competed at Pocono Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series: Janet Guthrie and Danica Patrick.
Female Competitor Stats at Pocono Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series
DriverStarting PositionFinishing PositionDateDanica Patrick22157/30/2017Danica Patrick24166/11/2017Danica Patrick26228/1/2016Danica Patrick33326/6/2016Danica Patrick20168/2/2015Danica Patrick22376/7/2015Danica Patrick10308/3/2014Danica Patrick16376/8/2014Danica Patrick34358/4/2013Danica Patrick30296/9/2013Averages23.726.9DriverStarting PositionFinishing PositionDateJanet Guthrie21287/27/1980Janet Guthrie22317/30/1978Janet Guthrie10117/31/1977Averages17.723.3
NASCAR IN PENNSYLVANIA
There have been 163 NASCAR national series races among 10 tracks in the state of Pennsylvania.Among the 10 tracks in Pennsylvania, Pocono Raceway has hosted the most NASCAR national series events.The first NASCAR national series race held in the state of Pennsylvania was the NASCAR Cup Series event held on September 11, 1949 at Langhorne Speedway and won by Curtis Turner (Oldsmobile).The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway was on August 4, 1974, and the event was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty (Dodge, 115.593 mph).
NASCAR Tracks in Pennsylvania
Track NameCityCupXfinityTruckCombinedFirst YearPocono RacewayLong Pond886121061974Bloomsburg FairgroundsBloomsburg10011953Heidelberg RacewayPittsburgh40041949Langhorne SpeedwayLanghorne1700171949Lincoln SpeedwayNew Oxford70071955Nazareth SpeedwayNazareth0176231988New Bradford SpeedwayBradford10011958Pine Grove SpeedwayShippenville10011951Reading FairgroundsReading20021958Williams Grove SpeedwayMechanicsburg10011954Totals1222318163
PENNSYLVANIA DRIVERS IN NASCAR
A total of 150 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Pennsylvania.Three of the 150 Pennsylvania drivers have won in NASCAR‘s premiere series.
Pennsylvania Winners in NASCAR
Race WinnersCupXfinityTruckCombinedDick Linder3003Jimmy Spencer212115Mark Donohue1001Totals612119
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