Pocono The Great American Getaway 400 Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks

Denny Hamlin
Pocono Fantasy Outlook – Denny Hamlin is a super-elite performer at Pocono and in the Great American Getaway 400, the road to victory lane likely goes thru him. Hamlin’s the winningest Pocono driver in NASCAR history (7-wins), and if you give him 2022 back where he won but got post race DQ’ed, then he has 8-wins, is 2 for 3 at winning in the Next Gen and would have a 1.3 Next Gen Average Finish. Also in the Next Gen at Pocono, Hamlin has the best Total Speed Ranking, the best Driver Rating and the best Average Running Position. On Sunday, look for Hamlin to be a top five contender who’ll be a factor to win.
Pocono Track History – Denny Hamlin has dominated the competition at Pocono in the Next Gen era, having “Crossed” the finish line first twice, having a 1.3 average finish (not counting his DQ) and has the best Next Gen Speed Ranking. Last year, Hamlin finished 2nd in Stage #1, won Stage #2, had a race best 5.0 average running position, earned the 2nd best Driver Rating, led 31 laps and then finished 2nd overall. In terms of speed stats, Hamlin had the best Total Speed Ranking and ranked 3rd for Speed Late In A Run. In 2023, Hamlin had a hot rod and raced his way to victory lane. In the race, Hamlin started 8th, finished 3rd in Stage #1, finished 4th in Stage #2, had the 3rd best average running position (8.3), earned the 3rd best Driver Rating and of course finished 1st. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Hamlin ranked 3rd. In 2022, Hamlin crossed the finish line first but NASCAR DQ’ed him in post-race inspection which led to his 35th. In the race, Hamlin had a 6.1 average running position, led 21 laps and had the 3rd best Total Speed Ranking.

Further Recomendad Reading = Pocono 2024 Scouting Report, Pocono Next Gen Speed Rankings, Pocono Next Gen Average Finishes, Pocono 2024 Speed Cheat sheet 

Ryan Blaney
Pocono Fantasy Outlook – 2-time and defending Pocono winner, Ryan Blaney will be tough to beat at the “Tricky Triangle” as he vies for the repeat. Blaney always shows up with speed here and over the last five Pocono races you could argue he’s been top 6 good, despite what you see in the results column. Horse power is king with the long straightaways and the #12 team doesn’t lack in the HP department. On Sunday, look for Blaney to be a top five contender who’ll be a factor to win.
Pocono Track History – At Pocono, Ryan Blaney won his first race here back in 2017 and for his career minus misleading results his average finish is 7.8. In the Next Gen, Blaney of course won last year but in the two races prior to that he had major problems and had back-to-back 30’s. Last year, Blaney took the competition to the woodshed in closing time and took home the trophy. In addition to finishing 1st, Blaney led 44 laps, earned the best Driver Rating and had the 2nd best Average Running Position. In terms of speed stats, Blaney had the fastest car late in a run and ranked 2nd in terms of Total Speed Rankings. Over the last quarter of the race, Blaney dropped the hammer and had the fastest car on the track. In 2023, the #12 was fast but Blaney finished an asterisk mark 30th. In the race, Blaney started 14th, finished 8th in Stage #2, led 2 laps, was in 2nd on lap 101 but then Blaney had drive train issues and rapidly dropped back which doomed his afternoon. The #12 looked quite strong and in segment #2 prior to his issue he ranked as the 2nd fastest car on the track. In 2022, Blaney had a hot rod but his afternoon nosedived in the last Stage. In the race, Blaney finished 4th in Stage #1, finished 2nd in Stage #2, led 7 laps but then in the last Stage, Blaney had multiple problems which led to his asterisk mark 33rd. On lap 107 while running in 5th, Blaney had a flat tire which dropped him a lap down. Then later on lap 136 while he was way back in 30th, Blaney crashed hard into the inside wall which marked the end of his race. In 2021 during the doubles, Blaney had results of 5th and 6th.

Kyle Larson
Pocono Fantasy Outlook – Kyle Larson has never won at Pocono, but he’s come close to victory lane and there’s no question he’ll be a factor in a fast #5. Larson nearly won in 2023 and if he didn’t have a flat tire while leading on the last lap in 2021 #1, he could’ve potentially won 2 of the last 5 races. If it wasn’t for those two races with problems while leading late, he could be 4 for 5 at finishing in the top five since 2021. On Sunday, look for Larson to be a top five contender who’ll be a factor to win.
Pocono Track History –  Kyle Larson has performed at a super-elite level at Pocono and in the Next Gen, Larson has the 4th best Next Gen Speed Ranking and the 7th best Driver Rating. Last year, Larson didn’t have an incident free race and finished 13th. In the race, Larson finished 6th in Stage #2 but then early in the last Stage while running in the top five, Larson got a speeding penalty which dropped him to the back and he just never fully rebounded. In the race, Larson had the 13th best Total Speed Ranking and a 13.2 average running position. If his race would’ve been incident free, he was likely a top five contender. In 2023, Larson had a rocket and ranked as one of the best but finished an asterisk mark 20th. In the race, Larson started 3rd, won Stage #2, led 24 laps but while leading late on lap 153, Hamlin ran him high on the track and Larson then had contact with the wall which led to his 20th place finish. If that didn’t happen, there’s no question he was poised for a top five or perhaps even win. In terms of speed stats, Larson ranked 7th for Total Speed Rankings and Green Flag Speed. In 2022, Larson had a great car and was a factor. In the race, Larson won Stage #1, finished 8th in Stage #2, led 18 laps, had a 9.2 average running position and then finished 5th. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Larson ranked 2nd. In 2021, Larson finished 2nd in race #2 after starting in the back and then in race #1 on the last lap while leading, he had a flat tire and slammed into the wall which led to his 9th.

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