Pocono GoBowling.com 400 Top 10 Confidence Ranking Picks
1. Jimmie Johnson – With Jimmie Johnson starting on the pole and with the thumping he delivered in June he’s an excellent pick to win the Pocono GoBowling.com 400. Earlier this season the #48 car was in a zip code of its own. No one had anything for him and he was essentially untouchable. In the race he led 128 laps and earned a near perfect 148.1 driver rating. The only laps he didn’t lead were at the start of the race, during pit cycles or when Ryan Newman used pit strategy to take the top spot. Last year the #48 car was good in both Pocono races. In August 2012 he was leading before the final caution but him and Matt Kenseth got together during a restart and it took away a near certain victory. In June 2012 he had a phenomenal car but had a pit penalty and finished 4th. Since August 2007 Jimmie Johnson has been the driver to beat here. Over these 12 races he has the best average finish (6.3), best average running position (7.6), led the most laps (415) and has the best driver rating (118.0). In the Pocono GoBowling.com 400 Johnson will be using his Kentucky chassis. This car was capable of winning but he had restart issues that hindered him. In that event he led 182 laps and finished 9th.
2. Kurt Busch – Kurt Busch will be fast on Sunday and I think he’s a serious threat for a top 5 finish in the Pocono GoBowling.com 400. In June he started in 20th and climbed up towards the front pretty quickly. It only took him 10 laps and he was already up to 11th. When the checkered flag waved he finished 7th and earned the 4th best driver rating. The difference between this event and the last one is that he’ll be starting much closer to the front. In this race he’ll be starting in 5th. Pocono has been a good track for Kurt Busch. He’s a two-time winner and has finished 9th or better in 5 of the last 7 races.
Want more perspective on Pocono? Read Jordan’s Post Practice Predictions for the GoBowling.com 400
3. Tony Stewart – Tony Stewart has arguably been the best driver at Pocono since it was repaved. At least result wise that’s a proven fact. Over the three races on the new surface he’s finished in the top five every race and has a 4.0 average finish. Earlier this season he started in 20th and drove up to a 4th place finish. In the event he earned the 7th best driver rating and had a 10th place average running position. On Sunday he’ll be returning that very chassis. One difference between this race and that race is that he’ll be starting one position closer to the front (19th). Pocono has been a very good track for Stewart. He has two wins and has finished in the top ten 72% percent of the time. He’s also been an extremely safe pick in the recent past. Only twice since the second race of 2005 has he finished 11th or worse. It also should be noted that this is a track that SHR tested at so that extra track type could really benefit them with practice being canceled.
