My Thoughts: 2014 Pocono

         Almost all the time, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on tracks with four turns. Twice every year, the series heads to a road course with many winding and quick turns on the circuit. Two other times a year, the case is completely different. The series heads around a triangle with only three corners instead of the typical four. That track is known as Pocono Raceway or “The Tricky Triangle”. Because of its unique shape and tricky corners, Pocono has been home to some of the oddest wrecks and craziest finishes in NASCAR history. In terms of wrecks, it isn't too hard to find those. In 1992, Davey Allison went barrel rolling down the straightaway between turns 1 and 2 after contact with Darrell Waltrip. Allison was unhurt for the most part, but the wreck was extremely big. In 2003, Ken Schrader slammed into the turn 1 wall and went for a flip before catching on fire. There also have been a good many altercations at the track. In 2010, Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano had problems on track and the discussion after the race still has not been forgotten today. In 2011, Kurt Busch and Jimmie Johnson had a little discussion after the race due to some contact late in the race. There have also been some great finishes. One example was a season ago in the August race. Kasey Kahne drove the wheels off his car on the final restart and held off Jeff Gordon to take his second win of the season in a rather tense situation. Other races have ended in the same fashion, but one thing has always been the same about Pocono: the racing is always great. With that, I have a few topics I want to discuss with you guys before the race starts today. Topics include a discussion of Greg Biffle, a discussion of Carl Edwards, a discussion of Ricky Stenhouse Jr., a discussion of Matt Kenseth, and my pick to win this afternoon's race. Let us not wait any longer and jump into these interesting topics before a race at the interesting track in Pennsylvania.

1. Greg Biffle: Will He Be at Roush-Fenway Racing Next Season?
         This week's edition of my thoughts begins with discussions of the three drivers at Roush-Fenway Racing. The first discussion is of Greg Biffle. Recently, Biffle and his teammate, Carl Edwards, have been rumored to be in the process of moving away from RFR next season. If you recall, Biffle has been running full time for Jack Roush since 2003 and Biffle has won nineteen races while looking to be the first driver to win a championship in all three of NASCAR's highest series. When Matt Kenseth left Roush at the end of the 2012 season, Biffle became the veteran leader of the team. Biffle did well in that role in 2013 with a win and a ninth place points finish, but he really needs more for his abilities. This year has been decent for Biffle, but he is still looking for speed from week to week and his first win of the season. With all that in mind, I have one question for Biffle. Will he be at Roush-Fenway Racing next year? I think he will. Listen, you can make a case for him staying and leaving, but staying seems like the better option. The main reason is he is working for a team that has been good for years in NASCAR. Biffle has been the guy for Roush and he really hasn't disappointed his team there. I think it would suit him to stay there and continue rattling off wins for Jack. A final reason is Biffle can still run well for the Ford camp. I think Biffle still has the potential to grab wins for Roush and I still think he can win a title for them. All he has to do is remain the face of the organization and I think he can do that. All in all, expect Greg Biffle to remain at RFR driver next year and contend like he always does in the Cup Series.

2. Carl Edwards: Will He Be at Roush-Fenway Racing Next Season?
        The other side of the leaving Roush-Fenway Racing discussion is with Carl Edwards. Edwards has also been rumored to be leaving the team after the 2014 season. If you recall, Edwards has been a full time driver for Jack Roush since 2005 along with winning twenty two races and finishing second in the points in 2008 and 2011. Carl Edwards has really been a huge part of the Roush-Fenway Racing organization since he came in 2005 and he is now part of the duo with Greg Biffle and the trio with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. I just have one question for Edwards. Will he be at Roush-Fenway Racing next season? I don't really see him at Roush next season. The main reason is the caliber of teams who have been considering signing him for next season. Team Penske and Joe Gibbs Racing have both shown interest in Edwards. Both of these teams have been performing great recently in NASCAR's highest series. Listen to this statistic. In thirteen races this season, those two teams have combined to win five races thus far. To me, both of those teams sound like they know what they are doing and Edwards would be a good fit. A final reason is Edwards needs a change to win a title. Let's face it. Edwards probably does not have a chance to win a championship at Roush. I could be wrong, but it just doesn't seem like the team is consistent from week to week. Gibbs and Penske are two organizations who will have teams that can win championships for years to come. Edwards needs that environment and I think he could take a title at either one of those organizations. Carl Edwards has been a mainstay driver at Roush for going on ten years, but it seems like he is close to a change in his career. 

3. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: Why Has He Been Struggling This Year?
         To end the discussions of the trio of Roush-Fenway Racing drivers, we will discuss Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Stenhouse's season didn't start off bad, but since a second place finish at Bristol, he has been really struggling. He has only finished in the top twenty two times in nine races since then. If you recall, Stenhouse made the jump to NASCAR's highest series last year and he took the rookie of the year award after having a decent year. It looked like he would continue to improve this year after a decent rookie season, but with the exception of the second at Bristol, he hasn't been running well at all in his sophomore season. Here is my question for Stenhouse. Why has he been struggling this year? I think the main reason might be this uncertainty at Roush-Fenway Racing for next year. In the previous topics, I discussed how Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards are, potentially, leaving the team. This has left the team in a little bit of turmoil and I feel like Stenhouse has made his way into the situation. I'm sure he looks up to Biffle and Edwards and they are his role models, which causes him to want them to stay there. A final reason for his struggles, in my opinion, is the new pairing with his Nationwide crew chief, Mike Kelley, for 2014. Kelley led Stenhouse to two Nationwide championships in 2011 and 2012, but the Cup Series is different. The two have to grow a different notebook together and that takes a good bit of time. I feel like their partnership will build a great notebook and they will be fine as the series continues to visit tracks for a second time. I really don't think Stenhouse's struggles are permanent and he will be able to make his way to the top in the Cup Series.

4. Matt Kenseth: Will He Win a Race This Year?
        At this point one season ago, Matt Kenseth had three wins for his new team at Joe Gibbs Racing  and he was a perennial contender in the championship. This season after thirteen races, Kenseth is still a perennial championship contender with the points lead, but there is one key difference: no wins. Unlike last year, Kenseth has rattled off no wins in thirteen races in 2014. If you recall, Kenseth finished off 2013 with seven wins and a second place finish in the championship behind one Jimmie Johnson. Here is the thing, though. Kenseth hasn't been bad this year. He has finished in the top five five times this season and he has been great all year, but victory lane has alluded him. Here is my question for Kenseth and his team. Will he win a race this season in the Cup Series? He will definitely win a race in the Cup Series this season. The main reason is just how consistent Kenseth has been this season. Every single race this year, Kenseth has had the opportunity to win the race. At Charlotte two weeks ago, he was leading in the final ten laps before Jimmie Johnson passed him for the win. A week ago at Dover, Kenseth was in position on the final restart, but he couldn't pass Johnson to take the win. To me, it seems like he just needs the right opportunity to win the race. A final reason is the race tracks we are about to visit. We are about to go to Kentucky, New Hampshire, Daytona, and others and Kenseth has won at all of these tracks. I think he will be a contender at all these tracks and he can easily take a win at any of them. Don't worry about Kenseth's chances for a win the rest of the year because he will definitely be a factor to take a win. 

5. My Pick to Win
         Pocono is one track on the Cup Series schedule that is built for certain drivers. A driver either loves the track or hates it because of the tough conditions and the tough layout. Some of the greatest in our sport have never won a race at Pocono and some of the best have taken a good many wins at the raceway. In terms of a winner today, it doesn't take an expert to find that Hendrick Motorsports will be a team to watch throughout the race. Listen to this statistic. In the last three races at Pocono, a different Hendrick Motorsports driver has won the race. It seems like all four of their drivers will be there when the race is nearing the finish. Along with the Hendrick drivers, there are a good many others to watch out for. Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart, and Kurt Busch look like possible winners in today's race at Pocono. Also, look at Ryan Newman and Austin Dillon as possible underdog winners in the race. I am excited about today's race, but I won't be able to write about it because I am on vacation. I will still be watching and cheering on some great triangular racing. Well, that is all for me and until we meet again. 





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