Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin are winless in 2009, but that isn't stopping the experts from picking them as favorites to capture the Pocono 500 on Sunday. Both are two-time winners at Pocono Raceway, and both received five votes in this week’s poll.
Jimmie Johnson, fresh off his victory at Dover a week ago, earned three votes as did points leader Tony Stewart. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kurt Busch had two votes apiece. Earnhardt is in his second race with interim crew chief Lance McGrew.
Here are the media picks for Pocono. What do fans think?
Mark Beech, Sports Illustrated: TONY STEWART
He’s done everything but win this year ... which, come to think of it, is an almost spot-on description of his history at Pocono (where he has just one victory). Expect him to tame the triangle for number two.
Viv Bernstein, Charlotte NASCAR Examiner: JIMMIE JOHNSON
Johnson and Chad Knaus are the best team in NASCAR. When they are on their game as they are right now, it’s hard to pick against them.
David Caraviello, NASCAR.com: DENNY HAMLIN
The guy hasn’t won at Pocono since his rookie year, and hasn’t won there in the new car. But he has a tremendous average finish at the place, and he’s overdue for a victory.
Shawn Courchesne, Hartford Courant: DENNY HAMLIN
With four top-5’s and two victories in six career starts at Pocono Raceway, Hamlin has proven that he knows the fast way around the tricky triangle and it’s time for him to break the winless drought of 2009.
Jeremy Dunn, Atlanta NASCAR Examiner: KURT BUSCH
Kurt is not drawing attention to himself quite like his little bro, but he is enjoying a solid season. A win at Pocono could be on the horizon.
Greg Engle, National NASCAR Examiner: CARL EDWARDS
Last week, I picked Carl Edwards. He sold me a little short and finished seventh, but that’s OK. This week I’ll let it ride. Pocono was the site of Edwards’ second career Sprint Cup win and he won here last August. C’mon, Carl, do me proud.
David Exum, NASCAR Scene: CARL EDWARDS
He’s due for a victory. Long overdue.
Tony Fabrizio, Tampa Tribune: KASEY KAHNE
Kahne has quietly picked up steam of late, and he was first and seventh at Pocono’s two races last year.
Tania Ganguli, Orlando Sentinel: MARK MARTIN
His third win of the season won’t be pretty here ... but is this race ever?
Jeff Gluck, NASCAR Scene: DENNY HAMLIN
Perhaps no young driver has ever taken to a track like Denny Hamlin at Pocono. Two poles and two wins there in his first two races, followed by three more top-10 finishes. He’s never finished off the lead lap in his six-race career at Pocono (1,106 laps) and is the best bet to drive to victory lane on Sunday.
Brant James, St. Petersburg Times: CARL EDWARDS
He’s great at Pocono and oh so due.
Tom Jensen, SPEEDtv.com: RYAN NEWMAN
He likes this track, his team is hot and he’s due for a victory.
Josh Lobdell, Detroit NASCAR Examiner: KURT BUSCH
Kurt has been one of the strongest cars on the track this year and he and his team know how to get it done at Pocono.
Mike Massaro, ESPN: JIMMIE JOHNSON
Considering the 48’s Pocono history, how good they were in practice and strong performance in Dover last week, the 48 appears ready to put together a run.
Ryan McGee, ESPN The Magazine: CARL EDWARDS
We’ve been waiting on the 99 to fulfull our lofty preseason predictions. If he can’t do it at Pocono, it isn’t going to happen.
Joe Menzer, NASCAR.com: DENNY HAMLIN
Even though the Denny Double at Pocono in 2006 was accomplished with NASCAR’s old car, his bad luck in ’09 is due to turn.
Rick Minter, RacinToday.com: TONY STEWART
Things seem to be going his way this year, and he’s about overdue for a win.
Mike Mulhern, MikeMulhern.net: DALE EARNHARDT JR.
He’s got to win sooner or later ...
Ralph N. Paulk, Richmond Times-Dispatch: DENNY HAMLIN
This should be his place of refuge, considering he swept both races at Pocono as a rookie in 2006. He has been good there since, but largely unlucky. Besides, he’s due a Cup victory after a year-long drought.
Bob Pockrass, NASCAR Scene: CARL EDWARDS
He is going to be one mad driver after Greg Biffle and him nearly wrecked each other at Dover, and he’s typically pretty good at these big tracks.
Nate Ryan, USA Today: TONY STEWART
Now that he’s the first driver-owner to lead the points in 17 years, he’ll become the first driver-owner to win in nearly 11 years. Pocono is the perfect place for Stewart’s points victory breakthrough; the Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner is third in the driver rating at the 2.5 mile track that isn’t so unlike the oval (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) that he adores the most.
Jim Utter, Charlotte Observer: JIMMIE JOHNSON
He’s fresh off a victory with momentum on his side. Plus, with Tony Stewart wrecking his car, he’ll start the race in the first position.
Ken Willis, Daytona Beach News-Journal: DALE EARNHARDT JR.
We’ve seen enough of Rick Hendrick over the years to know that he generally makes the right personnel moves. The swap on the 88 pit box will eventually pay off; might as well be this week.
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