Starting Lineup | Pocono Paint Schemes
Stories to follow during the Gander Outdoors 400 at Pocono Raceway, which can be heard live on the Motor Racing Network starting at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Truex Jr. Goes for Sweep; Harvick, Busch Start Near the Back
June Pocono winner Martin Truex Jr. wound up as the highest qualifying driver among the “The Big 3” after original front-row qualifiers Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch saw their times disqualified following inspection. Harvick, who led a race-high 89 laps at Pocono in June, had a fast car all day in practices and qualifying, but will now have to start 29th, one position behind Busch. Truex will now start eighth after originally slated to start 14th.
From the Back
Along with Busch and Harvick, 11 more cars failed post-qualifying inspection and will have to start in the back (Read More). A number of those drivers were among the fastest in practice that includes: Joey Logano, Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer and Kyle Larson. Final Practice Speeds | First Practice Speeds
Suarez to Lead the Field
Daniel Suarez was elevated to the pole winner after Harvick and Kyle Busch’s time was disqualified. It was Suarez’s first career pole and he will look to use the starting spot score his first top 10 since finishing third at Dover in May.
Hamlin Looking to Conquer Repave
Denny Hamlin is a four-time Pocono winner but has yet to win since the track was repaved, 13 races ago. Hamlin, who will start second, posted the second-best 10 consecutive lap average in the final practice session.
Top Five Streak for Keselowski
Brad Keselowski is the only driver that has finished in the top five in each of the last six races at Pocono. He will start fourth in Sunday’s race. Pocono Driver Averages
Kurt Busch Starting Up Front
Busch, who has a top 10 driver rating at Pocono since 2016, was the lone Stewart-Haas Racing car that did not fail post-qualifying inspection. The three-time Pocono winner will start seventh.
An Eighth Winner?
Will Pocono see an eighth different winner this season? Twenty-five of the first 27 starters have not won a race this season. Erik Jones (third) and Truex Jr. are the only drivers that have gone to Victory Lane in 2018 among the top 27 starters in the Gander Outdoors 400.
600th Start for Johnson
Jimmie Johnson, who was one of the drivers that had his qualifying time disallowed, will make his 600th career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start from the 35th position. He started 15th and finished eighth at Pocono in June.
