Gander RV 400: Power Rankings

Race Information

Race: Gander RV 400
Laps: 160
Date: July 28^th
Venue: Pocono Raceway
2018 Winner: Kyle Busch (3:05:43)
Broadcast: NBCSN

Track

Pocono Raceway - built in 1969 and opened in 1971, this 2.5 mile asphalt triangle is best known for its distinctive non-oval or circular shape. Turn one (14 degrees) is modeled after Trenton Speedway, turn two (eight degrees) after Indianapolis Motor Speedway and turn three (six degrees) is after the Milwaukee Mile. Due to the different angles and styles, drivers have to make constant adjustments for each turn, mental fortitude is a must here.

Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/NASCAR via Getty Images

Power Rankings

The Favorites

Kyle Busch (fifth selection this year) — I will start with the low hanging fruit, Kyle Busch won here the last two years so he’s the easy selection.

Kurt Busch (fifth selection this year) — Kurt has top five finishes in four of the last five years here so the Busch brothers are the heavy favorites at Pocono.

High Risk / High Reward

Erik Jones (fourth selection this year) — He finished 3^rd here as a rookie and then 17^th last year. Despite being 14^th in the Monster Energy rankings, Erik comes into this race fresh off back to back third place finishes so he has a hot streak coming with him too. Some contact with Ricky Stenhouse may have created a short term enemy for Jones.

Ryan Blaney (sixth selection this year) — Ryan has finished in the top 10 each of the last three years at Pocono. He comes in with top 15 finishes in six of his last seven races.

The Dark Horse

Michael McDowell (second selection this year) — Michael McDowell finished in the top 25 each of the last two years here. In addition to that he has been in the top 20 three of the last four races.

2019 Results

Favorite: Avg Finish 13th (34th Percent)
High Risk/High Reward: Avg Finish 11th (30th Percent)
Dark Horse: Avg Finish 18th (48th Percent)