What Turn 4?
CORNELIUS, N.C. — You don’t have to be a mathematician to understand Pocono Raceway but it couldn’t hurt. The 2.5-mile track, nestled in the mountains of Pennsylvania, is certainly atypical. It’s the only non-road-course track without a turn 4.
Otherwise known as the “Tricky Triangle,” the track’s unique configuration includes one of the longest straightaways on the circuit and the longest and widest pit road, a fact the pit crews appreciate.
Clint Bowyer and his No.15 Maxwell House Toyota crew hope it’s a track they appreciate even more after Sunday’s 400-mile event. The Maxwell House driver, in the first of four races for the new MWR sponsor (Watkins Glen, Martinsville and Texas) has eight top-10 finishes at Pocono.
He’s hoping he can add to that total as well as his current streak of top-10 runs. After a sixth-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last weekend, four of his last six races have resulted in top-10 finishes. Those results have Bowyer currently in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings. He is 16th out of a 16 car field, 20 points out of 15th and 30 ahead of 17th. With six races left until the Chase field is set, the Emporia, Kan., native knows every point counts.
With Maxwell House on board for the first of four races (Watkins Glen, Martinsville and Texas) Bowyer and team would like nothing more than to show the new Michael Waltrip Racing sponsor how to get to victory lane. He just needs to remember as he comes around turn 3 this weekend, he doesn’t need to be looking for turn 4.
There are six races remaining to make the Chase. How do you like your chances?
“I like our chances a lot. We have some momentum going at just the right time and that’s something you can’t really anticipate or plan for. You just got to go with it when it happens. I think last weekend showed we definitely have what it takes to get the job done. And typically when you do well at Indy it translates to Pocono so I’m confident we can do it again. We have a new sponsor, Maxwell House, on board this weekend so we’re going to try our hardest to get them to experience victory lane. We showed we were capable of it last week. I expect we’ll be the same this week.”
NO. 15 CREW ROSTER
Billy Scott
Crew Chief
Terry Spalding
Front Tire Changer
Allen Steele
Front Tire Carrier
Lee Cunningham
Rear Tire Changer
P.J. Briody
Rear Tire Carrier
Brian Chase
Jack Man
Evan Marchal
Gas Man
J.D. Frey
Car Chief
Brett Griffin
Spotter
Dax Gerringer
Race Engineer
Joe Bisson
Race Engineer
Adam Cooke
Shock Specialist
Travis Stock
Rear Mechanic
Chris Sherwood
Front Mechanic
Kyle Anderson
Interior Mechanic
James Davis
Tire Specialist
Gregg Huls
Engine Tuner
Ray Erwin
Truck Driver
Jeff Shano
Truck Driver
POCONO STATS
· Two top-five and eight top-10 finishes in 19 starts
· Completed 3,317 of 3,368 laps (98.5%) and led 91 laps
· No DNFs (did not finish)
· Average start 18.5 and average finish 14.6
