NASCAR Makes Its 2nd Visit To Pocono This Season

All three of NASCAR's national touring series are scheduled for events this weekend, with Sprint Cup and Camping World Trucks at Pocono Raceway and the Nationwide Series running at Iowa Speedway.

Joey Logano was the winner in June’s visit to Pocono, but he knows he needs to win another race during the regular season if he hopes to make the field for this year's Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Logano sits fourth in the wild card standings with six races left before the Chase begins.

Pocono has been a good track for Logano and he’s hoping his next victory is there this weekend. He’s had the pole in the last two races there and it’s where he claimed his second career Sprint Cup win two months ago.

Kasey Kahne holds down the first of the two wild card spots thanks to wins at Charlotte and New Hampshire. Logano’s teammate, Kyle Busch, has the second wild card spot and Ryan Newman has the third.  For the wild card, wins is the key and if either Busch or Newman win another race, Logano is on the outside looking in.

Dale Earnhardt, Junior enters the weekend as the Sprint Cup points leader. He and Matt Kenseth exchanged positions after Kenseth was involved in a crash last week at Indy that brought his day to an early end.

A-J Almendinger has been released by Penske racing after his second drug test came back positive for a banned substance. He’s suspended by NASCAR indefinitely and won’t be allowed back until he completes a mandatory recovery program. Sam Hornish, Junior will take over duties in the Number 22 Dodge for the rest of the season.

The Truck Series will also run at Pocono on Saturday afternoon – just the third time racing on the 2 and a half mile track. Nationwide drivers are at Iowa on Saturday night.