FYI WIRZ: NASCAR Drivers Seek Keys to Tricky Pocono

The next NASCAR Sprint Cup racing challenge is maybe the trickiest one, the Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway in Pocono, Pennsylvania.

The unique 2.5-mile triangle track with 14-degree banking has long been referred to as the Tricky Triangle. Mastering Pocono is an elusive accomplishment.

Drivers are especially eager to win at Pocono and other NSCS tracks with a Chase format that favors wins over points.

It’s the halfway point in NASCAR’s regular season. Drivers without wins have just 13 races to get to Victory Lane and secure a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

NSCS Drivers with a win or wins in 2015 shared their take on the Tricky Triangle.

Jimmie Johnson is coming off his fourth win this season and carries plenty of momentum and the luxury of gambling on pit strategy in Pocono. He spoke with optimism.

“I love the speed factor at Pocono,” he said. “It’s not an easy track, and trying to figure out how to pass someone or get by someone, there’s something in that, that gets me going.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won the past two races at Pocono and is ready to continue his streak.

“It seems like guys that run well at Pocono can sustain it,” he said. “I've seen guys sweep there and we were able to do it last year. I like the track. We have run well there since the repave. I anticipate us being competitive and hopefully getting three in a row.”

Matt Kenseth isn’t the biggest fan of Pocono and spoke of his lack of comfort there. 

“Pocono has always been one of the most challenging race tracks on the circuit for me,” he said. “I’m not sure that I’ve ever gotten a great handle on that track yet. I try to lean on my teammates as we prepare for this weekend in order to improve at Pocono.”

Kenseth’s teammate, Denny Hamlin, has won at Pocono and outlined a strategy.

“You have to have the fastest car,” he said. “Once you get out front there you can do some work. It’s just been tougher to pass ever since they repaved. You know that your task will be pretty tough if you qualify bad to get a good finish on Sunday.”

NSCS drivers without a win in 2015 also shared their comments on the big task at Pocono.

Martin Truex Jr. is having a productive year and will likely make the Chase without a win, but he yearns for Victory Lane. He also pointed out the difficulty this weekend.

"If Dover is considered my home track, then Pocono is my second home track," he said. “They call Pocono the Tricky Triangle. That's exactly what it is—tricky. If there were a track you would change the track bar setting on every turn, it would likely be Pocono.”

Jeff Gordon pointed out the team strategy for the weekend challenge.

“I like the challenge that Pocono Raceway presents the teams—it really is tricky. Compromise in the setup is key with the three unique corners.

Like Truex, Aric Almirola is also having a good year. He too would cherish a win while facing the next half of the season.

"There is definitely a reason why they call Pocono the Tricky Triangle,” he said. “It's a very difficult track. We have done a really good job with running consistently in the top 15 at tracks. I am hopeful we can continue that consistency this weekend.”

The keys to a win in Pocono are elusive. Truex identified maybe the tallest hurdle drivers will face 160 times after the green flag waves. 

“The hardest thing about Pocono is the tunnel turn, which is a very sharp and flat corner,” he said. “The racetrack is narrow. You're running 200 miles per hour, and there's not a lot of banking. It's just an intimidating turn." 

Credit: Dwight Drum

Fans without tickets can apply driver comments about the Tricky Triangle to their viewing enjoyment by tuning in to Fox Sports 1 at 1 p.m. this Sunday.

FYI WIRZ is the select presentation of topics by Dwight Drum at Racetake.com. Unless otherwise noted, information and all quotes were obtained firsthand or from official release materials provided by sanction and team representatives.