Pocono Pennsylvania 400: Fantasy NASCAR “Top Tier Elite” Picks

Jimmie Johnson – In June on the newly repaved Pocono Speedway Jimmie Johnson had one of the fastest cars. In fact I would contend it may of been the fastest. He started in 24th and by lap #40 he was already in the top 5. The Pocono 400 wasn’t without incident for Johnson though. In the first round of green flag pit stops he had a speeding penalty exiting pit road and then he had another speeding penalty while serving his pass through. Those penalties got him a lap back but he still managed to finish 4th. It was his third consecutive fourth place finish at Pocono. I think if the June race was the Pocono 500 he would’ve won. Jimmie Johnson is the safest pick you can make at Pocono. In 21 races at the “Tricky Triangle” only once has he finished outside the top fifteen. Fresh off his Indy win Jimmie Johnson will be a very popular pick by experts to win the Pennsylvania 400. (Yahoo! A Driver)

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. may of had the best car at Pocono earlier this year. He started in 8th and had an average running position of 4th. When the checkered flag waved he crossed the finish line in 8th and had the second best driver rating (126.8). Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s problem was that his fuel mileage strategy was wrong. With about 20 laps to go Junior pitted for gas and went from a top three running spot all the way back to the high teens. His car was fast enough though that he was able to drive up through the field pretty quickly. Last year Earnhardt Jr. swept the top ten and finished 6th and 9th. My Dale Earnhardt Jr. Pocono prediction is that he’ll have a very good race. (Yahoo! B Driver)

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Denny Hamlin – Denny Hamlin will be many people’s default pick for the Pennsylvania 400. He’s a four-time winner and he’s finished in the top six 69% percent of the time. This spring Denny Hamlin started 5th and finished 5th. He likely could’ve finished even better but at one point in the race he stayed out on the track to long and ran out of fuel. It was a costly mistake but luckily for him after he was done with his pit stop the caution came out. Qualifying is important at Pocono and Hamlin is a master at starting out front. He’s a two-time pole winner and has qualified in the top seven the last seven consecutive Pocono races. (Yahoo! A Driver)

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Top Tier Elite Picks > Front Runners Rankings > Mid Pack Projections > Drivers To Avoid