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Stewart looks for Pocono sweep
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The Sprint Cup Series will make its way to the Pocono Raceway for the second time this season for Sunday’s Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500.
Since the first Pocono race in June three drivers have fallen out of the top 12 -- Kyle Busch, Jeff Burton, and David Reutimann. Conversely, three drivers have managed to climb into the top-12 since leaving Pocono back in June -- Juan Montoya, Mark Martin, and Kasey Kahne.
Including Sunday’s race, there are six races remaining until that cutoff at Richmond to get into the Chase for the Sprint Cup, and the competition is heated near that 12th-position with several drivers barely holding on to their top-12 position, and several others that are oh-so-close but still on the outside fighting to get in.
Currently, Matt Kenseth occupies that coveted 12th-position.
Meanwhile, one driver in a comfortable spot in the standings is points leader Tony Stewart. Stewart got his first Sprint Cup win as an owner/driver when the series last visited Pocono. Sunday will be Stewart’s chance to get his first track sweep in an owner/driver role.
Only six drivers have previously swept Pocono in a single season -- Bobby Allison, Bill Elliott, Tim Richmond, Bobbie Labonte, Jimmie Johnson, and Denny Hamlin.
Even if he doesn’t win on Sunday, Stewart could still possibly achieve a sweep of sorts -- an owner’s sweep. If Stewart-Haas teammate Ryan Newman were to pull into victory lane following this weekend’s event, Stewart would joint the likes of Jack Roush and Roger Penske, who have swept Pocono races as owners with different drivers.
Veteran driver Mark Martin, on the other hand, is looking for his first win at Pocono, even though he has run well at the Pennsylvania track in the past.
Martin has 39 career wins, but Pocono is one of only five tracks where Martin has failed to visit victory lane. In 45 starts at Pocono, he does have six runner-up finishes, though.
Television coverage for Sunday’s Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 will get started at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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