There are ten races remaining before the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, and this weekend, the series heads to Pocono Raceway. Historically, four teams have dominated the last ten Cup races at this venue: Joe Gibbs Racing with six victories, Hendrick Motorsports with two, Penske with one, and Stewart-Haas Racing also with one.
As teams prepare for Sunday’s race at Pocono, here’s a look at the positive and negative indicators for various drivers:
For 23XI Racing, Tyler Reddick has been impressive, finishing as the runner-up in two of the last three races at Pocono and boasting the best average finish of 3.3 among all drivers in the Next Gen era since 2022. Meanwhile, Bubba Wallace has shown consistency with three consecutive finishes of 12th or better. However, Reddick’s struggles in the last eight races, where he has placed 13th or worse in seven of them, present a stark contrast.
Front Row Motorsports sees Todd Gilliland earning respectable finishes, landing 18th or better in six of the last ten races, and Zane Smith claiming five top-20 finishes over his last seven competitions. Conversely, Noah Gragson has faced challenges, finishing 27th or worse in his previous three outings.
Cole Custer from Haas Factory Team managed to secure a season-best eighth place in Mexico City, signifying a step in the right direction. Nevertheless, he currently sits in 35th place in points.
At Hendrick Motorsports, Chase Elliott is coming off his best finish of the season with third place in Mexico, and possesses the highest points tally at Pocono in the Next Gen car. While William Byron’s average finish of 9.36 ranks as the best all-time there, he also leads with a remarkable 604 points through 16 races. However, Elliott’s ongoing drought without a Cup victory spans 43 races.
Joe Gibbs Racing welcomes back Denny Hamlin after missing the Mexico race due to the birth of his son. Hamlin holds the all-time record at Pocono with seven wins, and he finished second last year. Christopher Bell also has shown promise, achieving seven top-three finishes this season.
Notably, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has demonstrated resilience in the midst of challenges, clinching five top-20 finishes in the last seven races for Hyak Motorsports, though tension has arisen following on-track incidents with Carson Hocevar.
Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports have notable drivers poised for strong performances, but everyone will be vying for crucial points as the playoffs loom ever closer. With ten races left, the competitive spirit is likely to intensify, making Pocono a critical stop on this season’s journey.
This weekend’s race at Pocono offers teams and drivers a valuable opportunity to improve their standings and increase momentum as the playoffs approach. The thrilling atmosphere and competitive nature of NASCAR are sure to bring excitement to fans and participants alike.