Drivers to watch in NASCAR Cup race at Pocono Raceway

With only six races remaining in the Cup regular season, Pocono Raceway looms large this weekend as a difficult test for those hoping to join the playoff roster.

Known as the Tricky Triangle because of its unique three-turn layout, Pocono features fast speeds and hard braking in the tight turns.

Five drivers who have not secured playoff spots — Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney and Chris Buescher — have won at Pocono. Christopher Bell became the 14th driver to register a win this year with last Sunday’s victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Chase Elliott

You can’t stop Chase Elliott; you can only hope to contain him. With two wins and two second places in the past four races, he’s the hottest driver on the circuit rolling into Pocono. The fast triangle will test Elliott’s skills — his average finish there in the past five races is 21st, and he’s finished outside the top 10 in four of the past five Pocono races.

Denny Hamlin

Hamlin is Mr. Pocono. His six wins there — two in 2006 and one each in 2009, 2010, 2019 and 2020 — tie him with Jeff Gordon for victory leader at Pocono. He finished fourth and 14th in Pocono’s races last season.

Kurt Busch

Busch has had a roller-coaster of a season. He has seven top 10s (including a win at Kansas) in the past 18 races but also has 11 finishes of 13th or worse over that stretch. Pocono is one of his better tracks.

Kyle Busch

As the playoffs approach, Busch is trending downward. He hasn’t won since the ninth race of the season at Bristol, and his 12th-place run on a mixed day at New Hampshire was his best finish in the past five races. Pocono, however, could offer some salve. He has led in 12 of the past 13 races there and was a winner in 2017, 2018, 2019