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27th
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It's no surprise that Sprint Cup drivers are happy with the repaving at the two and-a-half mile Pocono Raceway. The track takes a pounding from the hot summers and cold winters and the last repave was in 1995
Goodyear conducted a tire test on Wednesday to determine the best compound for the new surface.
Jamie McMurray, a Daytona 500 winner who drives for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, said “I think they did an amazing job on the repave. I was really concerned because the track was so rough and when they did Talladega, it was super smooth. As soon as they repaved Daytona, it still had bumps in it, in different places than what it had before. So, I didn't know when we got here, if it was going to still be rough, you know smoother, but rough. But, (they did a) really good job on the repave on how smooth the track is.”
Kasey Kahne, who is now driving for Hendrick Motor Sports and is looking for his first win of the year added,“ the track feels great. I mean as far as the grip, and the way rubber is that we put down a little bit yesterday and this morning, it's smoother. It still has the same transitions, the same rolling hills in spots that Pocono has always been known for. To me, it's really good.”
And Kahne, who is the track record holder, was able to run laps about half-a-second faster due to running on the new pavement in cool weather.
Looking forward to the summer races he noted “the thing you can look forward to is as more cars get here, more rubber on the racetrack, you can start moving around the track. You know, this place takes a beating in the winter time, and even in the summer, it's hot. So, it will widen out quickly and that's what makes good racing. As long as Goodyear is giving us good tires, that fall of and everything that we look for in a tire, I think the track is going to be great. We're going to want to come up here and race more often than what maybe we have in the past.”
Austin Dillon, the reigning Camping World Truck Series Champion, was also happy with how his test went for Richard Childress Racing “well, the track is very fast. We're just working on adjusting the new grooves right now. It's fun. I'm happy to be driving it. It's like driving a go cart out there. (There is a) lot of grip out there and pretty much wide open for us. Turns 1 and 2 you are gaining a lot of speed. It's very wide open, especially; the turns are close to wide open.”
Also testing at the track called the tricky triangle were Aric Almirola (Richard Petty Motorsports), Matt Crafton (ThorSport) and Joey Logano (Joe Gibbs Racing).
Goodyear conducted a tire test on Wednesday to determine the best compound for the new surface.
Jamie McMurray, a Daytona 500 winner who drives for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, said “I think they did an amazing job on the repave. I was really concerned because the track was so rough and when they did Talladega, it was super smooth. As soon as they repaved Daytona, it still had bumps in it, in different places than what it had before. So, I didn't know when we got here, if it was going to still be rough, you know smoother, but rough. But, (they did a) really good job on the repave on how smooth the track is.”
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| Photo: Pocono Raceway |
Kasey Kahne, who is now driving for Hendrick Motor Sports and is looking for his first win of the year added,“ the track feels great. I mean as far as the grip, and the way rubber is that we put down a little bit yesterday and this morning, it's smoother. It still has the same transitions, the same rolling hills in spots that Pocono has always been known for. To me, it's really good.”
And Kahne, who is the track record holder, was able to run laps about half-a-second faster due to running on the new pavement in cool weather.
Looking forward to the summer races he noted “the thing you can look forward to is as more cars get here, more rubber on the racetrack, you can start moving around the track. You know, this place takes a beating in the winter time, and even in the summer, it's hot. So, it will widen out quickly and that's what makes good racing. As long as Goodyear is giving us good tires, that fall of and everything that we look for in a tire, I think the track is going to be great. We're going to want to come up here and race more often than what maybe we have in the past.”
 |
| Photo: Pocono Raceway |
Austin Dillon, the reigning Camping World Truck Series Champion, was also happy with how his test went for Richard Childress Racing “well, the track is very fast. We're just working on adjusting the new grooves right now. It's fun. I'm happy to be driving it. It's like driving a go cart out there. (There is a) lot of grip out there and pretty much wide open for us. Turns 1 and 2 you are gaining a lot of speed. It's very wide open, especially; the turns are close to wide open.”
Also testing at the track called the tricky triangle were Aric Almirola (Richard Petty Motorsports), Matt Crafton (ThorSport) and Joey Logano (Joe Gibbs Racing).