pocono first take

160 laps at Pocono, so fewer then normal points available on DK for laps led (40 total available) and fastest laps (80 total available).  We have had one driver lead about half the laps in each of the last three races.  Kyle Busch did so twice and Kevin Harvick once.  This track also allows for real good position difference potential because cars can pass off Turn 3 or into Turn 1 and varying pit strategies are in play to gain track position.

Here's my initial list of drivers I'm most interested in going into the race weekend.  Many familiar names up top:

• Kyle Busch -- In the last three Pocono races, he's been on pole twice and has finished 3rd (13 laps led), 1st (74 laps led) and 9th (100 laps led).  Especially after the race ending last week, he's likely to run up front and has as much Dominator potential as anyone.
  
• Harvick -- He led 89 of 160 laps at Pocono in the June race this year.  In the last five, he's finished 4th, 2nd, 2nd, 4th and 9th.  There has to be some concern about retaliation from the #18, but I'm not too worried about that.  What Harvick did last week really wasn't all that bad or noteworthy and I'm sure Kyle recognized that after the heat of the moment was past.  I do expect the #4 and #18 to both be up front Sunday.  While I expect the #18 to race the #4 very aggressively, I don't have much concern that he would purposely wreck him like, say, Kenseth did Logano several years back.  There's no need for the #18 to escalate the situation as the playoffs approach.  Harvick, too, has as much Dominator potential as anyone.
  
• Truex -- Who would have imagined these three at the top of the list?  In the last three Pocono races, Truex has started no worse than 4th and finished 1st (31 laps led), 3rd (31 laps led) and 6th (5 laps led).  Again, I expect him to be running up front with strong Dominator potential.
  
• Keselowski -- On to a few guys a step below the Big Three.  Keselowski has been as steady as they come at Pocono, which is what we want in a cash game.  In the last six races, he's finished 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, 5th, 5th and 5th.  He's only led 38 of 900+ total laps in those races, but he does have some good position difference numbers.  Depending on salary and starting spot, he might become a very good option.  Possibly a stronger option on FanDuel, where laps led points aren't as big a factor.
  
• Aric Almirola -- He just looks so strong right now.  A win has to be coming sooner or later.  In eleven Pocono races with Richard Petty Motorsports, Almirola's best finish was 18th -- and that race was the only race where he finished better than 20th while at RPM.  Fast forward to his new team and the race a few weeks ago.  He started 34th, but finished 7th.  Very much in play depending on salary and starting spot.
  
• Matt Kenseth -- Showed some signs of life last week starting 31st, but finishing 15th.  He ran in the Rousch #6 car in the June Pocono race and started 26th, but finished 13th.  Prior to that, in his last six Pocono races with Joe Gibbs Racing, he had 5 Top 10 finishes, with a low of 17th.  Could be a good option again.
  
• Ryan Newman -- This is probably a large tournament option only, but this team is mired at 19th in points -- nearly 80 points under the playoff cut line.  RCR has a history of stretching a fuel run to make one less pit stop and pull off a surprise victory.  Pocono sometimes offers an opportunity to use an off base pit strategy.  If that comes up on Sunday, expect the #31 team to take a gamble to go for the race win they so desperately need to make the playoffs.
• Ty Dillon -- This guy always scares me.  But, in his five Cup series races here, he's finished 23rd (+6 positions), 17th (+13 positions), 18th (+9 positions), 21st (+7 positions) and 18th (+11 positions).  That's pretty damn good for what his salary should be.
  
• David Ragan -- Another salary saver option.  In his three races at Pocono with his current Front Row Motorsports team, he's finished 16th (+5 positions), 22nd (+11 positions) and 25th (+6 positions).
  
• Corey LaJoie -- Might be an option if you choose extreme salary save -- which I generally recommend only for a large tournament.  LaJoie is shown in the entry list for the #72.  He did not run the June race, but he did run both races last year in the #23.  In those two races he finished 25th (+9 positions) and 28th (+7 positions).  Again, a solid return for what should be a minimal salary.
  

As always, we'll have more as the race weekend approaches and goes along.  We'll post a few Xfinity notes again this week too.