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What to Watch: Tough Challenges Await in the Pocono Mountains
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Highlights
- The Great American Getaway 400 runs Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET.
- Denny Hamlin starts on pole, aiming for eighth Pocono win.
- Race spans 160 laps on Pocono’s unique three-corner track.
- Ryan Blaney seeks repeat victory; last year’s Pocono winner.
- Joey Logano plans split pit strategies for stage breaks.
- Tire wear and fuel mileage remain key with new Goodyear tires.
Ryan Blaney, who captured his first Cup Series victory at Pocono, appreciates the challenge of three diverse turns, especially trying to balance speed and handling between them. His crew chief, Jonathan Hassler, shares that they often focus on setting the car up for Turns 1 and 3, even if it means losing some time in the tricky second corner known as the Tunnel Turn.
Car setup decisions are complicated by the track’s demands, including a new, softer Goodyear tire combination this year. Crew chief Aaron Kramer believes tire wear and fuel mileage will be key factors, especially with teams looking for any edge on long green-flag runs.
Toyota teams have found repeated success at Pocono, winning six of the past ten events here.
Denny Hamlin is responsible for half of those victories, and his No. 11 Toyota consistently leads in speed and restarts in the Next Gen car on this track.
Ty Gibbs is another name in the spotlight. Driving the No. 54 for Joe Gibbs Racing, Gibbs has logged multiple top-ten starts recently and could earn his first career win if things break his way. His team ranks among the best on pit road, which will help in tight situations.
With strategy, tire choices, and restart chaos likely throughout the 400-mile event, teams must act boldly to claim valuable stage points or edge closer to the playoff cut line.
Fantasy racing lineups this week are reshuffled after eventful practice and qualifying sessions. Denny Hamlin, Chris Buescher, Ty Gibbs, Ryan Blaney, and Carson Hocevar are top picks, with Chase Elliott in the garage as a strong backup.
Hendrick Motorsports faces a tougher challenge, with their best starter lining up 18th. Practice data showed strong short-run speed from William Byron before he crashed his car in qualifying, further complicating predictions.
Pocono’s reputation for mixing up the order remains, and with drivers racing against time and each other, every lap could reshape the playoff picture and deliver another memorable finish at the Tricky Triangle.
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.
* The featured image is not a real photograph — it was created using AI.
