Originally Posted on Foxsports.com on June 12, 2006.
Pocono seemed to shine fortune on some teams, rained disaster on some, and ignored others.
Gibbs: Living in Sunshine at Pocono
Denny Hamlin: He finally has his first "Official" win as a rookie (the Bud Shootout in February "doesn't count" for win purposes as it is not an official race). Hamlin masterfully saved the car when it spun due to a blown tire. He then worked his way through several pit stops, and from 40th to 1st. Since he cut his hand testing at Charlotte, he has finished 2nd at Richmond, won at Pocono, and has finished not lower than 11th. The way he looked at Pocono should have the rest of the field worried about a Gibbs dominated summer.
Tony Stewart: IThe field should be equally worried about Stewart. think a week on top of the pit box about killed Tony, and he isn't about to let that become a permanent solution. He finishes his first complete race after breaking his shoulder in third. Last year at this time, Michigan sparked a hot streak that lasted through the end of the year. And some of his best tracks are looming: Daytona, Sonoma, New Hampshire, Chicago, Pocono2, Watkins Glen and Indy (his favorite).
JJ Yeley: Yeley had tire trouble, but hung in there to finish 15 - which was the lowest finish of the 3 Gibbs cars. Yeley has the potential, I just don't think he has found comfort in the Cup cars. Hopefully Gibbs will let him continue to improve. He's running about mid-pack of the rookies.
Hendrick: Who lost the lucky rabbit's foot?
Jeff Gordon: Gordon qualifies well, then drops anchor and sinks through the field. I don't know what is not connecting on this team - but something had better give, or Gordon will remain outside the top 10 looking in at the Chase again.
Jimmie Johnson: Johnson, on the other hand, typcially qualifies or runs poorly at the beginning and then works the car until he finishes in the top 10. Yesterday was no exception. However, Johnson has this pattern of doing really well at the beginning of the season and then losing it in the middle of the year, never to quite recover. Do they use up their good luck too early in the year? He isn't spectacular at the upcoming road courses, or Indy. And Matt Kenseth is slowing chipping away at his lead.
Brian Vickers: Had a great finish, but has announced he is not going to be back next year with this team. His finish should fuel the speculation on where exactly he thinks the grass is greener.
Hendrick pit penalties: Johnson, Vickers, and Kyle Busch all received speeding tickets. Gordon was held at a pit stop for a missing lug nut. Any guesses on how many pit practices these crews have this week?
Roush: Ho-Hum
Matt Kenseth: He finished in the top 5 again. He is probably the most underrated driver out there. He has one championship and is part of the dynamic duo with crew chief Robbie Reiser. Maybe it's the Wisconsin thing, or the fact they are fanatic Packers fans, who knows? But Kenseth will be in the chase again, and very well could steal this championship from the presumptive favorites Johnson and Stewart.
Greg Biffle: Biffle had brake problems. Again. But this time, the team looked like the contenders they were last year - they trouble shooted the problem and Biffle shot back to the front again. He's getting closer to being in the top 10 in points. One thing I always forget about Biffle is that if he wins the Cup Championship, he will be the only driver to win the championship in all three Nascar series. Don't underestimate him.
Mark Martin & Jamie McMurray: Both finished in the top 20. But their finishes were overshadowed by Biffle & Kenseth's good runs and Edward's bad one.
Carl Edwards: At the beginning of the race, he looked like he might pull off another win. Then he had a fantastically bad pit stop (over 1 minute) where he lost laps. Given the problems Mark Martin had in the pits last week at Dover, I think the Roush teams will be doing pit practice with the Hendrick teams.
Others of Note:
Kurt Busch: Since he finished 2nd this week, he'll not grace the top 10 for the next 3 races (and, Yes, I did check the stats, & that is exactly how his season has been going).
Kasey Kahne: Kahne & Edwards simultaneously had jack trouble in the pits. Kahne's team was able to work with his problem and he didn't lose a lap.
Junior: Junior's day was up and down, although he hung in the top 20 most of the day. His finish didn't reflect how he ran most of the day (14th). He is close enough in points to Stewart that they swapped positions in the standings. And in any event, he is still safely within the top 10 and is running consistantly in the top 10.
Casey Mears: He crashed out of the race before the end of the first lap. Nevermind, he's busy trying to secure the Hendrick seat that Vickers left.
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