Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, going into the The Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VisitPA.com on Sunday, July 14 at 2:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
At Pocono Raceway Stats & Tidbits:
TRACK DATA
Season Race #: 21 (07/14/2024)
Track Length: 2.5 Mile Asphalt Tri-Oval
Race Purse: $7,776,907
Race Length: 400 Miles (160 Laps)
First Cup Race: Aug. 4, 1974 – Purolator 500
Banking in Turn 1: 14 degrees
Banking in Turn 2: 8 degrees
Banking in Turn 3: 6 degrees
Frontstretch: 3,740 feet
Backstretch: 3,055 feet
Shortstretch: 1,780 feet
TRACK QUALIFYING & RACE RECORDS
Track Qualifying Record:
Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 183.438 mph, 49.063 secs., August 1, 2014
Track Race Record (200 laps/500 miles):
Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 145.384 mph, (03:26:21), June 12, 2011
Track Race Record (160 laps/400 miles):
Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 144.202 mph, (02:46:26), June 9, 2013
2023 Pole Winner:
William Byron, Chevrolet, 170.629 mph, 52.746 secs., July 23, 2023
2023 Race Winner:
Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 119.363 mph, (03:21:04), July 23, 2023
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 driving the famous Petty Enterprises’ No. 43 Dodge. The average speed of the 192-Lap race was 115.593 MPH. Petty led 152 of the 192 laps on his way to the win.
- 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 90 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.
- Since 2022, the NASCAR Cup Series has only competed at Pocono Raceway once a season.
STARTS
- A total of 366 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway; 270 have competed in more than one Cup Series race at Pocono.
- NASCAR Hall of Famer Ricky Rudd leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Pocono Raceway with 55.
- Top Five In Cup Pocono Starts (All-Time): Ricky Rudd (55), Mark Martin (54), Terry Labonte (54), Kyle Petty (50) and Bill Elliott (48).
- Kyle Busch leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in starts at Pocono Raceway with 36.
- Top five in Cup Starts at Pocono (Active): Kyle Busch (36), Denny Hamlin (34), Martin Truex Jr. (34), Joey Logano (28), Brad Keselowski (26).
- A total of 35 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have made their series debut at Pocono Raceway.
- The most recent driver to make his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Pocono Raceway is Ty Gibbs in 2022.
- Of the 35 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.
Drivers | Date | Drivers | Date | ||
1 | Ty Gibbs | 7/24/2022 | 19 | Gene Coyle | 7/22/1984 |
2 | James Davison | 6/27/2020 | 20 | Bobby Gerhart | 6/12/1983 |
3 | Bubba Wallace | 6/11/2017 | 21 | Charlie Baker | 7/25/1982 |
4 | Jason White | 8/7/2011 | 22 | Tom, Jr. Hessert | 7/25/1982 |
5 | Dexter Bean | 6/7/2009 | 23 | Al Loquasto | 7/26/1981 |
6 | Chad McCumbee | 6/10/2007 | 24 | Bob Riley | 7/27/1980 |
7 | Stephen Leicht | 7/23/2006 | 25 | Kenny Hemphill | 7/27/1980 |
8 | Bob Keselowski | 6/12/1994 | 26 | Tim Richmond | 7/27/1980 |
9 | Mark Thompson | 6/14/1992 | 27 | Steve Gray | 7/30/1979 |
10 | Gary Wright | 7/21/1991 | 28 | Greg Heller | 7/31/1977 |
11 | John Paul Jr | 7/21/1991 | 29 | Jocko Maggiacomo | 7/31/1977 |
12 | Brian Ross | 7/22/1990 | 30 | Nestor Peles | 7/31/1977 |
13 | Rich Vogler | 7/22/1990 | 31 | Ronnie Thomas | 7/31/1977 |
14 | Jimmy Horton | 6/14/1987 | 32 | Carl Van Horn | 8/3/1975 |
15 | Cliff Hucul | 7/20/1986 | 33 | Jan Opperman | 8/4/1974 |
16 | Jack Ely | 6/8/1986 | 34 | Kenny Brightbill | 8/4/1974 |
17 | Mike Stolarcyk | 7/21/1985 | 35 | Larry Richardson | 8/4/1974 |
18 | Charles Poalillo | 7/22/1984 |
Average Starting Position
- David Pearson (six starts) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Pocono Raceway with a 4.667.
- Denny Hamlin (34 starts) leads all active series drivers in average starting position at Pocono with a 7.588.
Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Pocono Raceway (All-Time & Active)
Rank | All-Time Drivers | Avg Start | Races | Rank | Active Drivers | Avg Start | Races |
1 | David Pearson | 4.667 | 6 | 1 | Denny Hamlin | 7.588 | 34 |
2 | Cale Yarborough | 7.556 | 18 | 2 | Ty Gibbs | 10.500 | 2 |
3 | Denny Hamlin | 7.588 | 35 | 3 | Kyle Busch | 11.472 | 36 |
4 | Alan Kulwicki | 7.769 | 13 | 4 | Joey Logano | 11.500 | 28 |
5 | Benny Parsons | 8.667 | 21 | 5 | Brad Keselowski | 11.923 | 26 |
6 | Neil Bonnett | 8.941 | 17 | 6 | Kyle Larson | 12.938 | 16 |
7 | Daniel Suarez | 9.500 | 6 | 7 | Christopher Bell | 13.667 | 6 |
8 | Mark Martin | 9.741 | 54 | 8 | Martin Truex Jr | 13.794 | 34 |
9 | Bobby Allison | 9.857 | 21 | 9 | Ryan Blaney | 14.000 | 14 |
10 | Tim Richmond | 9.857 | 14 | 10 | Daniel Suarez | 14.167 | 12 |
POLES
- A total of 46 different drivers have won the pole at Pocono Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
- 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.
- NASCAR 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.
- A total of nine of the 46 Pocono Raceway Cup Series pole winners are active this weekend.
Active Pocono Pole Winners (9) | Poles | Seasons |
Denny Hamlin | 4 | 2022, 2014, 2006 sweep |
Kyle Busch | 4 | 2017 sweep, 2015, 2010 |
William Byron | 2 | 2023, 2019 |
Joey Logano | 2 | 2012, 2011 |
Daniel Suarez | 1 | 2018 |
Ryan Blaney | 1 | 2018 |
Brad Keselowski | 1 | 2016 |
Martin Truex Jr | 1 | 2016 |
Kyle Larson | 1 | 2014 |
- Denny Hamlin (2006 sweep, 2014, 2022) and Kyle Busch (Spring 2010, Fall 2015, 2017 sweep) lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in Pocono Raceway poles with four each.
- 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).
- A total of 30 different organizations have won the pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono Raceway. Six of the 30 NASCAR Cup Series organizations with poles at Pocono Raceway are active this weekend.
Active Organizations | Poles | Seasons |
Hendrick Motorsports | 14 | 2023, ’19, ’13, ’08, ’03, 1998, ’96, ’95, ’93 sweep, ’92, ’89, ’87, ’86 |
Joe Gibbs Racing | 12 | 2022, ’18, ’17 sweep, ’15, ’14, ’12, ’11, ’10, ’06 sweep. ’00 |
Team Penske | 8 | 2018, ’16, ’11, ’07, ’03, ’00, 1994, ’75 |
Stewart-Haas Racing | 3 | 2019. ’15, ’10 |
RFK Racing | 3 | 1996, ’91, ’90 |
Richard Childress Racing | 1 | 1999 |
- Eight different manufacturers have won a NASCAR Cup Series pole at Pocono Raceway; led by Chevrolet with 35, followed by Ford (18), Toyota (10), Dodge (8), Pontiac (6), Buick (2), American Motors Company and Oldsmobile (each have one).
WINS
- A total of 40 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Pocono Raceway, and 24 of the 40 have won multiple times at the 2.5-mile track.
- 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 Petty Enterprises Dodge.
- This weekend, nine of the 40 NASCAR Cup Series Pocono Raceway winners are active.
Active Pocono Winners (9) | Wins | Seasons |
Denny Hamlin | 7 | 2023. 2020, 2019, 2010, 2009, 2006 sweep |
Kyle Busch | 4 | 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017 |
Martin Truex Jr | 2 | 2018, 2015 |
Chase Elliott | 1 | 2022 |
Alex Bowman | 1 | 2021 |
Ryan Blaney | 1 | 2017 |
Chris Buescher | 1 | 2016 |
Joey Logano | 1 | 2012 |
Brad Keselowski | 1 | 2011 |
- Denny Hamlin leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Pocono Raceway with seven victories (2006 sweep, 2009, 2010, 2019, 2020, 2023).
- 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 Cup Winners at Pocono Raceway | Date |
Ryan Blaney | Sunday, June 11, 2017 |
Chris Buescher | Monday, August 1, 2016 |
Denny Hamlin | Sunday, June 11, 2006 |
Jeremy Mayfield | Sunday, June 21, 1998 |
- Denny Hamlin (2006) is the only active driver to win at Pocono in his first appearance.
- AJ Allmendinger and JJ Yeley lead the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Cup Series starts at Pocono without visiting Victory Lane at 23 each.
- A total of 23 different starting positions on the grid have resulted in wins in the NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono Raceway.
- Of the 90 NASCAR Cup Series races at Pocono Raceway, 16 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 17.9% 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 Position | Wins | Winning % | Starting Position | Wins | Winning % |
1 | 16 | 17.78% | 13 | 5 | 5.56% |
2 | 10 | 11.11% | 14 | 2 | 2.22% |
3 | 11 | 12.22% | 15 | 2 | 2.22% |
4 | 9 | 10.00% | 16 | 2 | 2.22% |
5 | 4 | 4.44% | 18 | 2 | 2.22% |
6 | 2 | 2.22% | 19 | 2 | 2.22% |
7 | 2 | 2.22% | 22 | 2 | 2.22% |
8 | 4 | 4.44% | 23 | 1 | 1.11% |
9 | 4 | 4.44% | 27 | 2 | 2.22% |
10 | 1 | 1.11% | 28 | 1 | 1.11% |
11 | 3 | 3.33% | 29 | 1 | 1.11% |
12 | 2 | 2.22% | |||
Additional Starting Position Stats | Winning % | Wins | |||
Winning from the First Starting Position: | 17.78% | 16 | |||
Winning from the Front Row: | 28.89% | 26 | |||
Winning from a Top-Five Starting Position: | 55.56% | 50 | |||
Winning from a Top-10 Starting Position: | 70.00% | 63 | |||
Winning After Starting Outside the Top 10: | 30.00% | 27 | |||
Winning After Starting Outside the Top 20: | 7.78% | 7 |
- A total of 26 different organizations have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono Raceway.
- Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Pocono with 19 wins among nine drivers: Jeff Gordon (six), Tim Richmond (three), Jimmie Johnson (three), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (two), Kasey Kahne (one), Geoff Bodine (one), Terry Labonte (one), Alex Bowman (one), Chase Elliott (one).
Active Organizations | Wins | Seasons |
Hendrick Motorsports | 19 | 2022, ’21, ’14 sweep, ’13 sweep, ’12, ’11, ’07, ’04 sweep, ‘1998, ’97, ’96, ’95, ’88, ’87, ’86 sweep |
Joe Gibbs Racing | 17 | 2023, ’21, ’20, ’19 sweep, ’18, ’17, ’15, ’12, ’10, ’09, ’06 sweep, ’03, ’01, 1999 sweep |
Team Penske | 9 | 2011, ’07, ’03, ’00 sweep, ‘1998, ’96, ’94, ’91 |
RFK Racing | 4 | 2010, ’08, ’05 sweep |
Wood Brothers Racing | 3 | 2017, ’80, ’75 |
Stewart-Haas Racing | 3 | 2020, ’16, ’09 |
Richard Childress Racing | 2 | 1993, ’87 |
Front Row Motorsports | 1 | 2016 |
- Eight different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono; led by Chevrolet with 34 victories; followed by Ford with 24, Toyota (12), Dodge (seven), Pontiac (six), Buick (four), Mercury (two) and Oldsmobile (one).
- The most consecutive wins by a manufacturer in the NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono Raceway is six straight wins by Chevrolet from 8/5/2012 – 6/7/2015.
ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS
Runner-Up Finishes
- A total of 39 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.
- Brad Keselowski leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in runner-up finishes at Pocono Raceway with four.
Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Pocono Raceway (All-Time & Active)
Rank | All-Time Drivers | Runner-Ups | Rank | Active Drivers | Runner-Ups |
1 | Mark Martin | 7 | 1 | Brad Keselowski | 4 |
2 | Jeff Gordon | 6 | 2 | Kyle Busch | 3 |
3 | Kevin Harvick | 5 | 3 | Kyle Larson | 2 |
4 | Kurt Busch | 5 | 4 | Tyler Reddick | 2 |
5 | Richard Petty | 5 | 5 | Daniel Suarez | 1 |
Denny Hamlin | 1 | ||||
Erik Jones | 1 |
Top-Five Finishes
- A total of 81 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.
- Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top fives at Pocono with 15.
Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Pocono Raceway (All-Time & Active)
Rank | All-Time Drivers | Top Fives | Rank | Active Drivers | Top Fives |
1 | Jeff Gordon | 20 | 1 | Denny Hamlin | 15 |
2 | Mark Martin | 20 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | 11 |
3 | Kevin Harvick | 16 | 3 | Kyle Busch | 11 |
4 | Denny Hamlin | 15 | 4 | Martin Truex Jr | 7 |
5 | Bill Elliott | 14 | 5 | Erik Jones | 5 |
Harry Gant | 14 | Kyle Larson | 5 | ||
Kurt Busch | 14 |
Top-10 Finishes
- A total of 133 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished in the top-10 at Pocono Raceway.
- NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin leads the Cup Series in top-10 finishes at Pocono Raceway with 34 top 10s.
- Denny Hamlin 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)
Rank | All-Time Drivers | Top 10s | Rank | Active Drivers | Top 10s |
1 | Mark Martin | 34 | 1 | Denny Hamlin | 22 |
2 | Jeff Gordon | 32 | 2 | Kyle Busch | 18 |
3 | Tony Stewart | 24 | 3 | Brad Keselowski | 15 |
4 | Kevin Harvick | 23 | 4 | Martin Truex Jr | 15 |
5 | Bill Elliott | 22 | 5 | Joey Logano | 10 |
Dale Earnhardt | 22 | ||||
Denny Hamlin | 22 | ||||
Ricky Rudd | 22 |
Average Finish
- Davey Allison leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Pocono with an 9.769 in 13 starts.
- William Byron leads all active Cup Series drivers in average finishing position at Pocono with an 9.9 in 10 starts.
Top 10 in Average Finishing Positions at Pocono Raceway (All-Time & Active)
Rank | All-Time Drivers | Avg Finish | Races |
1 | Davey Allison | 9.769 | 13 |
2 | Tim Richmond | 9.857 | 14 |
3 | William Byron | 9.900 | 10 |
4 | Daniel Hemric | 10.000 | 2 |
5 | Skip Manning | 10.000 | 2 |
6 | Jeff Gordon | 10.170 | 47 |
7 | Ty Gibbs | 10.500 | 2 |
8 | Brad Keselowski | 10.923 | 26 |
9 | Mark Martin | 11.352 | 54 |
10 | Denny Hamlin | 11.529 | 34 |
Rank | Active Drivers | Avg Finish | Races |
1 | William Byron | 9.900 | 10 |
2 | Daniel Hemric | 10.000 | 2 |
3 | Ty Gibbs | 10.500 | 2 |
4 | Brad Keselowski | 10.923 | 26 |
5 | Denny Hamlin | 11.529 | 34 |
6 | Kyle Larson | 11.563 | 16 |
7 | Erik Jones | 13.500 | 12 |
8 | Chase Elliott | 13.786 | 14 |
9 | Martin Truex Jr | 14.147 | 34 |
10 | Ryan Blaney | 14.286 | 14 |
LAP LEADERS
- A total of 135 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have led at least one lap at Pocono Raceway.
Top 10 Lap Leaders at Pocono Raceway (All-Time)
Rank | All-Time Drivers | Races | Led | Completed | % Led |
1 | Jeff Gordon | 47 | 1,040 | 8,535 | 12% |
2 | Denny Hamlin | 34 | 827 | 5,462 | 15% |
3 | Geoff Bodine | 40 | 809 | 6,799 | 12% |
4 | Rusty Wallace | 44 | 754 | 7,510 | 10% |
5 | Jimmie Johnson | 38 | 743 | 6,381 | 12% |
6 | Darrell Waltrip | 44 | 618 | 7,404 | 8% |
7 | Kurt Busch | 41 | 596 | 6,909 | 9% |
8 | Kyle Busch | 36 | 585 | 5,576 | 10% |
9 | Dale Jarrett | 41 | 524 | 7,481 | 7% |
10 | Richard Petty | 30 | 497 | 4,971 | 10% |
Top 10 Lap Leaders at Pocono Raceway (Active)
Rank | Active Drivers | Races | Led | Completed | % Led |
1 | Denny Hamlin | 34 | 827 | 5,462 | 15% |
2 | Kyle Busch | 36 | 585 | 5,576 | 10% |
3 | Joey Logano | 28 | 325 | 4,394 | 7% |
4 | Martin Truex Jr | 34 | 257 | 5,511 | 5% |
5 | Brad Keselowski | 26 | 227 | 4,103 | 6% |
6 | Kyle Larson | 16 | 158 | 2,482 | 6% |
7 | William Byron | 10 | 130 | 1,507 | 9% |
8 | Chase Elliott | 14 | 67 | 2,039 | 3% |
9 | Erik Jones | 12 | 56 | 1,762 | 3% |
10 | Ryan Blaney | 14 | 51 | 2,097 | 2% |
- NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon leads the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Pocono Raceway with 1,040 laps led in 47 starts.
- Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in laps led at Pocono Raceway with 827 laps led in 34 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.
- Note: The 2022 winner, Chase Elliott, won the race by not leading a single lap. Elliott was deemed the winner after the Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 and Kyle Busch’s No. 18 cars were disqualified in post-race inspection.
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
Margin of Victory | Winners | Runner-Ups | Date |
0.126 | Rusty Wallace | Jeff Burton | Sunday, July 23, 2000 |
0.139 | Ryan Blaney | Kevin Harvick | Sunday, June 11, 2017 |
0.190 | Dale Jarrett | Jeff Gordon | Sunday, July 16, 1995 |
0.228 | Dale Earnhardt Jr | Kevin Harvick | Sunday, August 3, 2014 |
0.280 | Rusty Wallace | Dale Earnhardt | Sunday, June 12, 1994 |
0.300 | Rusty Wallace | Ricky Rudd | Sunday, July 21, 1996 |
0.307 | Ryan Newman | Kurt Busch | Sunday, July 27, 2003 |
0.340 | Bobby Labonte | Jeff Gordon | Sunday, June 20, 1999 |
0.340 | Jeremy Mayfield | Jeff Gordon | Sunday, June 21, 1998 |
0.341 | Denny Hamlin | Erik Jones | Sunday, July 28, 2019 |
- Since 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.
Top Five Largest Margins of Victory at Pocono Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series
Margin of Victory | Date | Winners | Runner-Ups |
9.012 | Sunday, August 2, 2015 | Matt Kenseth | Brad Keselowski |
8.654 | Sunday, June 27, 2021 | Kyle Busch | Kyle Larson |
8.653 | Sunday, July 25, 1999 | Bobby Labonte | Dale Jarrett |
6.178 | Sunday, July 30, 2017 | Kyle Busch | Kevin Harvick |
5.080 | Sunday, June 13, 1993 | Kyle Petty | Ken Schrader |
- There have been four NASCAR Cup Series races resulting with NASCAR Overtime at Pocono since its inception into the series in 2005.
NASCAR Overtime Races at Pocono Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series
Scheduled Laps | Actual Laps | Overtime Laps | Winner | Date |
160 | 163 | 3 | Denny Hamlin | Sunday, July 28, 2019 |
160 | 164 | 4 | Kyle Busch | Sunday, July 29, 2018 |
200 | 204 | 4 | Denny Hamlin | Sunday, June 6, 2010 |
200 | 203 | 3 | Kurt Busch | Sunday, July 24, 2005 |
200 | 201 | 1 | Carl Edwards | Sunday, June 12, 2005 |
Seven of the 90 NASCAR 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 Date | Scheduled | Actual | Fewer Laps | Winners |
Sunday, July 31, 2016 | 160 | 138 | -22 | Chris Buescher |
Sunday, August 5, 2012 | 160 | 98 | -62 | Jeff Gordon |
Sunday, June 10, 2007 | 200 | 106 | -94 | Jeff Gordon |
Sunday, July 28, 2002 | 200 | 175 | -25 | Bill Elliott |
Sunday, July 21, 1991 | 200 | 179 | -21 | Rusty Wallace |
Sunday, July 20, 1986 | 200 | 150 | -50 | Tim Richmond |
Sunday, August 4, 1974 | 200 | 192 | -8 | Richard Petty |
- Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono Raceway seven times, and it has also been cancelled for four additional races (2020-2021) for the pandemic; twice the driver who started first after qualifying was cancelled won the event.
NASCAR Cup Series Races with Qualifying Cancelled at Pocono Raceway
Date | Started First Due Qualifying Cancelled | Finish |
Sunday, June 27, 2021 | Chris Buescher | 19 |
Saturday, June 26, 2021 | Kyle Larson | 9 |
Sunday, June 28, 2020 | Ryan Preece | 25 |
Saturday, June 27, 2020 | Aric Almirola | 3 |
Sunday, June 9, 2013 | Jimmie Johnson | 1 |
Monday, August 3, 2009 | Tony Stewart | 10 |
Sunday, June 7, 2009 | Tony Stewart | 1 |
Sunday, June 9, 2002 | Sterling Marlin | 4 |
Sunday, June 6, 1982 | Terry Labonte | 5 |
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
Driver | Starting Position | Finishing Position | Date |
Danica Patrick | 22 | 15 | 7/30/2017 |
Danica Patrick | 24 | 16 | 6/11/2017 |
Danica Patrick | 26 | 22 | 8/1/2016 |
Danica Patrick | 33 | 32 | 6/6/2016 |
Danica Patrick | 20 | 16 | 8/2/2015 |
Danica Patrick | 22 | 37 | 6/7/2015 |
Danica Patrick | 10 | 30 | 8/3/2014 |
Danica Patrick | 16 | 37 | 6/8/2014 |
Danica Patrick | 34 | 35 | 8/4/2013 |
Danica Patrick | 30 | 29 | 6/9/2013 |
Averages | 23.7 | 26.9 | |
Driver | Starting Position | Finishing Position | Date |
Janet Guthrie | 21 | 28 | 7/27/1980 |
Janet Guthrie | 22 | 31 | 7/30/1978 |
Janet Guthrie | 10 | 11 | 7/31/1977 |
Averages | 17.7 | 23.3 |
NASCAR IN PENNSYLVANIA
- There have been 169 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
NASCAR Tracks in Pennsylvania | City | Cup | Xfinity | Truck | Combined | First Year |
Pocono Raceway | Long Pond | 90 | 8 | 14 | 112 | 1974 |
Nazareth Speedway | Nazareth | 0 | 17 | 6 | 23 | 1988 |
Langhorne Speedway | Langhorne | 17 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 1949 |
Lincoln Speedway | New Oxford | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1955 |
Heidelberg Raceway | Pittsburgh | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1949 |
Reading Fairgrounds | Reading | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1958 |
Bloomsburg Fairgrounds | Bloomsburg | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1953 |
New Bradford Speedway | Bradford | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1958 |
Pine Grove Speedway | Shippenville | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1951 |
Williams Grove Speedway | Mechanicsburg | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1954 |
Totals | 124 | 25 | 20 | 169 |
PENNSYLVANIA DRIVERS IN NASCAR
- A total of 152 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Pennsylvania.
- Three of the 152 Pennsylvania drivers have won in NASCAR’s national series.
Pennsylvania Winners in NASCAR
Race Winners | Cup | Xfinity | Truck | Combined |
Dick Linder | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Jimmy Spencer | 2 | 12 | 1 | 15 |
Mark Donohue | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Totals | 6 | 12 | 1 | 19 |
— NASCAR —