(You may also want to check out "Historically Speaking.. It's a look at how each driver has done in the past five years at each track, as well as career wins and top 5 finishes.)
Fast Forward-Pocono
--Jim Fitzgerald
06-13-01
For Insider Racing
Greetings, Racefans! Welcome back to ?Fast Forward.? What a race at Michigan, huh? I have to tell you, I?m not an ?ABG?er? but I was calling Gordon all sorts of names when he and Ricky were guttin? it out on the final two laps! I really wanted Rudd to win, but, maybe next time. Okay, this week we head to Pocono. MY LEAST FAVORITE TRACK. The Mattioli family does a fine job with this facility, but, I don?t know?it?s just so?blah. It?s not as renown as Daytona, or not as flashy as Vegas, but this place desperately needs something to give it a boost. Anyway, Pocono is two-and-a-half mile Superspeedway, situated in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The unique thing about it is, it?s shaped like a triangle. If any of you have ever seen a 45-degree template for architectural or mechanical drawing, then you now have a good idea of the shape of Pocono. Others claim it looks like the profile of a Quarter-Midget. There are, they say, three turns. The first comes after the longest piece of straight track in the Winston Cup Series, and is banked a mere fourteen degrees. Turn two, which covers the tunnel for infield access, is only banked 8 degrees, and turn three is a pitifully flat 6 degrees. Two hundred laps will make up the five hundred miles needed to complete the race, and whoever can withstand the awesome gear pull coming down that frontstretch for the entire day will have the best shot at a victory when it comes time for the checkers.
Well, let?s take a look at how I did for Michigan, eh?
My Picks To Win Michigan:
88-Dale Jarrett-Yeesh. Jarrett nursed an ailing body to an 18th place finish. In the process, he lost the point lead to:
24-Jeff Gordon-Ahh, can I pick them or what? Gordon dominated for most of the day, and when fate tried to take it away, he spat in fate?s face. It?s not too often that it?s ?your day? all across the board, but that?s two ?your day?s in a row for the 24 team. I think they are soaking their tires again?
20-Tony Stewart-Gosh?what happened? Stewart finished a dismall 25th in a very ?Buckshot-esque? run.
2-Rusty Wallace-Had a decent car, but you know what the old bumper sticker says. ?Bodine Happens?? Finished 41st.
10-Johnny Benson-Not too bad for Benson, he finishes twelfth.
Shot In The Dark Pick:
28-Ricky Rudd-OHHHH?so close?.it should have rained on lap 199!
Others To Watch:
40-Sterling Marlin-finished 3rd
12-Jeremy Mayfield-finished 4th
6-Mark Martin-finished 16th
18-Bobby Labonte-finished 13th
Well, pretty much a garbage week for me, aside from the fact that I was able to pick the winner. The other choices were junk.
Anyway, enough about the past! Let?s let bygones be bygones. Here?s what I think of Pocono!
My Picks To Win Pocono:
12-Jeremy Mayfield-Two very interesting last laps at Pocono for Mayfield last season. The first, he nudged Dale Earnhardt and took the win, and the second, he popped a tire, giving teammate Rusty Wallace the win. Has won here twice, including his first win.
2-Rusty Wallace-He wrecked at Michigan, so it?s time for a good race this week. Has three wins, including one last year.
28-Ricky Rudd-Very possibly had the car to beat in both races here last year, but bad luck and fate took him out of the hunt both times. Even after a wreck, Rudd fought back to finish third last season.
18-Bobby Labonte-Has two wins here, but can he shake this bad luck bug?
20-Tony Stewart-Three top 6 finishes in four races. This week could be his break through, and he?ll be looking for redemption after last week.
Shot In The Dark Pick-Round and round, round she goes?where she stops?.Sterling Marlin.
Others to watch:
45-Kyle Petty-Don?t laugh.
5-Terry Labonte-I said don?t laugh.
9-Bill Elliott-Stop Laughing!
17-Matt Kenseth-Okay, I give up. Let loose with your silly school-girl giggling!
Well, folks, there you have it. Another week of educated guesses.
As for an Official top 5, I?ll go with these:
1. 28
2. 20
3. 24
4. 18
5. 88
That's it for now. Take care of yourselves, and for all those that deem it, happy Father?s Day! Remember, ?red lights? are only there for year-round Holiday decoration. Pay no attention to them.
Until next time, my friends?.
don't spam your site on this forum. have a little respect!
[This message has been edited by MadJack (edited 06-17-2001).]
[This message has been edited by MadJack (edited 06-17-2001).]
Fast Forward-Pocono
--Jim Fitzgerald
06-13-01
For Insider Racing
Greetings, Racefans! Welcome back to ?Fast Forward.? What a race at Michigan, huh? I have to tell you, I?m not an ?ABG?er? but I was calling Gordon all sorts of names when he and Ricky were guttin? it out on the final two laps! I really wanted Rudd to win, but, maybe next time. Okay, this week we head to Pocono. MY LEAST FAVORITE TRACK. The Mattioli family does a fine job with this facility, but, I don?t know?it?s just so?blah. It?s not as renown as Daytona, or not as flashy as Vegas, but this place desperately needs something to give it a boost. Anyway, Pocono is two-and-a-half mile Superspeedway, situated in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The unique thing about it is, it?s shaped like a triangle. If any of you have ever seen a 45-degree template for architectural or mechanical drawing, then you now have a good idea of the shape of Pocono. Others claim it looks like the profile of a Quarter-Midget. There are, they say, three turns. The first comes after the longest piece of straight track in the Winston Cup Series, and is banked a mere fourteen degrees. Turn two, which covers the tunnel for infield access, is only banked 8 degrees, and turn three is a pitifully flat 6 degrees. Two hundred laps will make up the five hundred miles needed to complete the race, and whoever can withstand the awesome gear pull coming down that frontstretch for the entire day will have the best shot at a victory when it comes time for the checkers.
Well, let?s take a look at how I did for Michigan, eh?
My Picks To Win Michigan:
88-Dale Jarrett-Yeesh. Jarrett nursed an ailing body to an 18th place finish. In the process, he lost the point lead to:
24-Jeff Gordon-Ahh, can I pick them or what? Gordon dominated for most of the day, and when fate tried to take it away, he spat in fate?s face. It?s not too often that it?s ?your day? all across the board, but that?s two ?your day?s in a row for the 24 team. I think they are soaking their tires again?
20-Tony Stewart-Gosh?what happened? Stewart finished a dismall 25th in a very ?Buckshot-esque? run.
2-Rusty Wallace-Had a decent car, but you know what the old bumper sticker says. ?Bodine Happens?? Finished 41st.
10-Johnny Benson-Not too bad for Benson, he finishes twelfth.
Shot In The Dark Pick:
28-Ricky Rudd-OHHHH?so close?.it should have rained on lap 199!
Others To Watch:
40-Sterling Marlin-finished 3rd
12-Jeremy Mayfield-finished 4th
6-Mark Martin-finished 16th
18-Bobby Labonte-finished 13th
Well, pretty much a garbage week for me, aside from the fact that I was able to pick the winner. The other choices were junk.
Anyway, enough about the past! Let?s let bygones be bygones. Here?s what I think of Pocono!
My Picks To Win Pocono:
12-Jeremy Mayfield-Two very interesting last laps at Pocono for Mayfield last season. The first, he nudged Dale Earnhardt and took the win, and the second, he popped a tire, giving teammate Rusty Wallace the win. Has won here twice, including his first win.
2-Rusty Wallace-He wrecked at Michigan, so it?s time for a good race this week. Has three wins, including one last year.
28-Ricky Rudd-Very possibly had the car to beat in both races here last year, but bad luck and fate took him out of the hunt both times. Even after a wreck, Rudd fought back to finish third last season.
18-Bobby Labonte-Has two wins here, but can he shake this bad luck bug?
20-Tony Stewart-Three top 6 finishes in four races. This week could be his break through, and he?ll be looking for redemption after last week.
Shot In The Dark Pick-Round and round, round she goes?where she stops?.Sterling Marlin.
Others to watch:
45-Kyle Petty-Don?t laugh.
5-Terry Labonte-I said don?t laugh.
9-Bill Elliott-Stop Laughing!
17-Matt Kenseth-Okay, I give up. Let loose with your silly school-girl giggling!
Well, folks, there you have it. Another week of educated guesses.
As for an Official top 5, I?ll go with these:
1. 28
2. 20
3. 24
4. 18
5. 88
That's it for now. Take care of yourselves, and for all those that deem it, happy Father?s Day! Remember, ?red lights? are only there for year-round Holiday decoration. Pay no attention to them.
Until next time, my friends?.
don't spam your site on this forum. have a little respect!
[This message has been edited by MadJack (edited 06-17-2001).]
[This message has been edited by MadJack (edited 06-17-2001).]
