The Backstretch Blog: Here we go to Pocono

Some call it the tricky triangle. And the nickname alone should give you good insight into what will make this weekend's race so unique. With just three corners instead of the unusual four, there is nothing like the Pocono Raceway on the NASCAR circuit.

Things get a little trickier this weekend, because the track has been repaved, so no one really knows what to expect.

"Obviously it's going to be really fast and I think they have put a lot of effort into making the race track safer with the barriers all around the track," said Kevin Harvick. "Just to see that type of effort from the race track and the commitment they have for the sport is pretty cool."

In the past, picking a driver with a good chance of winning, started and ended with Denny Hamlin. As a rookie he swept both Ponoco races, and had four career wins in Long Pond. But now that the track has changed, Hamlin says everyone is even.

"The success we had here and things like that are gone.  It's kind of a reset," said Hamlin. "You're not going to be able to look at any notes from previous race winners and things like that and try to predict a race winner for this thing."

Other drivers who have had success in the past at Pocono include Jeff Gordon (who has 5 wins), Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch (who win not be in Pocono this weekend), Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart.