NASCAR’s Big Three on track to dominate
Harvick, Busch, Truex have fared well at Pocono
For those hoping to see a rip in the fabric of NASCAR’s so-called Big Three this weekend at Pocono Raceway, temper that attitude.
It could happen, but it’s not likely. Kevin Harvick (six), Kyle Busch (five) and Martin Truex Jr. (four) have combined to win 15 of the season’s 20 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races. They have won eight of the past 10, with only Clint Bowyer (Michigan) and Erik Jones (Daytona) daring to interrupt.
This season is only the seventh in Cup history in which three drivers have scored four or more wins through the first 20 races.
The terrific trio also is hogging playoff points. Harvick has 32, Busch 30 and Truex 26. The only other driver in double figures in that category is Bowyer with 10.
And the numbers at Pocono, site of Sunday’s Gander Outdoors 400 (2:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN), also are unpleasant for those chasing Harvick, Truex and Busch. In this year’s June race at the three-turn track, Truex was first, Busch third and Harvick fourth. In this race a year ago, Busch was first, Harvick second and Truex third.
Should anybody else even show up? Well, yes. Pocono isn’t known as the Tricky Triangle for nothing. It’s one of NASCAR’s most challenging tracks, and weird things can happen — even to the Big Three.
Passing, Busch said, can be a chore. “Most of your passing is going to be
“It’s fun to win at a racetrack that is so unique.”
Kurt Busch
done probably through turn one and off of turn one and getting into turn two, and if somebody can get a good run off of turn two, get back up high and get in line to get on that patch (of new pavement), getting into turn three,” he said. “Besides that, in turn one, we just can’t get the cars to turn down there because there’s so much load on the bump stops from going 210 mph down the front straightaway and then trying to slow it down to about a ‘buck-40’ (140 mph).
“Turn two is kind of bumpy and kind of rough. There are different areas where you’ve got to maneuver through the tunnel turn to get your car right. If you miss it just by a little bit, you tend to knock the wall down off the corner, so it’s tight.”
Although he’s had a disappointing season, Denny Hamlin might have the best shot at cracking the Big Three domination this weekend. He’s an expert at Pocono, having won there four times, the best total of any active driver. Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch, also winless this season, have three victories apiece at Pocono.
“It’s fun to win at a racetrack that is so unique because of how different that track is compared to all the other oval tracks,” Kurt Busch said.
“Pocono is a little bit like Darlington in that all the corners are different, so you have to manage them the best that you can and not be perfect in one corner versus another.”