Field of 16 Battles for Crucial Regular Season Stage Points at Pocono

The Pocono Raceway will see the NASCAR Cup Series return on June 22 for the Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VISITPA.COM. This event is a significant stop in the race to the playoffs, where valuable stage points could make all the difference for drivers on the bubble.

With Shane van Gisbergen’s recent win, another spot in the postseason has been locked, tightening the fight for the remaining positions.

As the playoff race heats up, drivers like Bubba Wallace, Chase Briscoe, Alex Bowman, and Chris Buescher are locked in a tense battle for critical points. Each stage at Pocono offers a chance for these drivers to move up in the standings, particularly as unexpected winners could shake up the top 16.

Completing all thirty laps in a stage with the goal of earning maximum points could mean the difference between making or missing the playoffs this year. This approach becomes even more important knowing how unpredictable the Tricky Triangle can be, with surprising turns and strategy calls often deciding results.

Several drivers stand in strong positions coming into Sunday’s race. Chase Elliott, with a playoff probability of 98.96%, has been exceptional at Pocono, collecting top 10s in each of the last three events at the Pennsylvania track.

He finished second in two of the last three Pocono races and hasn’t finished worse than 11th there since the 2021 season.

In the middle of the pack, Alex Bowman and Chris Buescher have reasons for concern and hope. Bowman delivered an impressive top-five in Mexico despite a back injury, nudging his playoff chances to around 39%.

He previously won at Pocono in 2021 and finished third last year, showing he knows how to find speed at this track. Buescher, by contrast, saw his playoff probability drop to about 51% after another solid but not spectacular result.

He hasn’t found the top 10 at Pocono during the Gen 7 car era and will need to improve if he wants to lock in a playoff spot. Others face more uncertainty.

Carson Hocevar, struggling with mistakes in Mexico, enters Pocono with only a 15.18% playoff chance. In just one Cup start at the Long Pond track, he finished 17th, but more laps in the Truck Series this weekend could help his learning curve.

The outcomes at Pocono will impact the playoff cutline in a big way, especially for drivers searching for consistency and points. Stage racing adds a new layer of strategy and potential for movement up or down the standings.

With the green flag set to wave at 2:00 p.m. ET, fans and teams will see if favorites can maintain their edge, or if drivers on the edge of the bubble find a way to secure their playoff dreams. Every lap at the Tricky Triangle counts as drivers fight for their place in NASCAR’s postseason.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.