Statistically speaking: a look at Pocono Raceway

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is in Long Pond, Pa., this weekend for its second race of the season at Pocono Raceway — Sunday’s GoBowling.com 400. Overall, it’s the 21st race of the year, so counting Sunday’s race, there are six races remaining to claim spots in the 16-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrated in victory lane the last time the circuit visited Pocono in June, claiming his second win of the season. It was his first win at the track also known as the “Tricky Triangle.”

The winningest active drivers at the track are among those already with wins and Chase spots pretty much locked up. Jeff Gordon leads the way when it comes to Pocono victories with six. Denny Hamlin has four and Jimmie Johnson three.

Of the drivers still looking for their first wins of the seeason, there are a few drivers who have fared well at Pocono over the years. Among them are Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart, each of whom have two-career wins at the track.

Here’s a look at how some of the top drivers have fared at Pocono over the years:

Kurt Busch (No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)

· Two wins, 11 top fives, 15 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 14.8

· Average Running Position of 10.4, third-best

· Driver Rating of 105.5, third-best

· 312 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.147 mph, third-fastest

· 2,521 Laps in the Top 15 (76.6%), fifth-most

· 722 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), eighth-most

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

· One win, eight top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 15.8

· Average Running Position of 14.4, 12th-best

· Driver Rating of 90.8, 11th-best

· 79 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.624 mph, ninth-fastest

· 2,147 Laps in the Top 15 (62.2%), 11th-most

· 664 Quality Passes, 12th-most

Carl Edwards (No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)

· Two wins, five top fives, eight top 10s

· Average finish of 14.8

· Average Running Position of 14.4, 11th-best

· Driver Rating of 96.0, sixth-best

· 176 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.774 mph, eighth-fastest

· 2,238 Laps in the Top 15 (64.8%), eighth-most

· 701 Quality Passes, 10th-most

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

· Six wins, 19 top fives, 30 top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 10.0

· Average Running Position of 10.2, second-best

· Driver Rating of 101.8, fourth-best

· 143 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

· 1,477 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.014 mph, fifth-fastest

· 2,626 Laps in the Top 15 (76.1%), second-most

· 827 Quality Passes, third-most

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

· Four wins, nine top fives, 11 top 10s; three poles

· Average finish of 12.1

· Average Running Position of 10.8, fourth-best

· Series-best Driver Rating of 109.0

· Series-high 434 Fastest Laps Run

· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 162.311 mph

· 2,404 Laps in the Top 15 (78.9%), sixth-most

Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)

· Five top fives, nine top 10s

· Average finish of 14.0

· Average Running Position of 14.0, eighth-best

· Driver Rating of 90.7, 12th-best

· 1,668 Green Flag Passes, third-most

· 744 Quality Passes, fifth-most

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

· Three wins, 10 top fives, 17 top 10s; three poles

· Average finish of 8.7

· Series-best Average Running Position of 9.8

· Driver Rating of 108.7, second-best

· 272 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.201 mph, second-fastest

· Series-high 2,723 Laps in the Top 15 (78.9%)

· 819 Quality Passes, fourth-most

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

· Two wins, five top fives, seven top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 18.2

· Driver Rating of 91.5, 10th-best

· 297 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

· 1,529 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.869 mph, sixth-fastest

· 2,057 Laps in the Top 15 (59.6%), 12th-most

· 732 Quality Passes, seventh-most

Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Team Penske Ford)

· One win, three top fives, four top 10s

· Average finish of 12.3

· Driver Rating of 92.8, ninth-best

· 96 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most

Kyle Larson (No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet)

· One top five, one top 10

· Average finish of 5.0

· Average Running Position of 13.3, seventh-best

· Driver Rating of 96.0, seventh-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.080 mph, fourth-fastest

Ryan Newman (No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)

· One win, nine top fives, 13 top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 11.5

· Average Running Position of 11.2, fifth-best

· Driver Rating of 95.8, eighth-best

· 1,522 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.617 mph, 10th-fastest

· 2,598 Laps in the Top 15 (75.3%), third-most

· Series-high 851 Quality Passes

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)

· Two wins, 12 top fives, 22 top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 11.0

· Average Running Position of 11.8, sixth-best

· Driver Rating of 98.9, fifth-best

· 99 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most

· 1,620 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.830 mph, seventh-fastest

· 2,549 Laps in the Top 15 (73.8%), fourth-most

· 840 Quality Passes, second-most

Season Race #: 21 of 36 (08-04-14)

Track Size: 2.5-miles

Banking/Turn 1: 14 degrees

Banking/Turn 2: 8 degrees

Banking/Turn 3: 6 degrees

Frontstretch Length: 3,740 feet

Backstretch Length: 3,055 feet

Shortstretch Length: 1,780 feet

Race Length: 160 laps / 400 miles

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Pocono

Denny Hamlin………………………. 109.0

Jimmie Johnson…………………… 108.7

Kurt Busch………………………….. 105.5

Jeff Gordon………………………… 101.8

Tony Stewart…………………………. 98.9

Carl Edwards………………………… 96.0

Kyle Larson………………………….. 96.0

Ryan Newman……………………….. 95.8

Brad Keselowski……………………. 92.8

Kasey Kahne………………………… 91.5

Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 races (19 total) among active drivers at Pocono Raceway.

Qualifying/Race Data

2013 Coors Light Pole winner:

Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet

180.654 mph, 49.819 secs., 08-02-13

2013 race winner:

Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet

129.009 mph, (03:06:02), 08-04-13

Track qualifying record:

Denny Hamlin, Toyota

181.415 mph, 49.610 secs., 06-06-14

Track race record:

Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet

145.384 mph, (03:26:21), 06-12-11