SOZ on RTR - Will We Say Farewell to Pocono Soon?- Making the Grade Pocono 2 by Michelsen

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Will We Say Farewell to Pocono Soon?- Making the Grade Pocono 2

8/5/08: SOZ Studios, MI - By Dennis Michelsen "DMIC" (RaceTalkRadio.com)

Speedway Motorsports and International Speedway Corporation are involved in their own game of NASCAR Monopoly. The tracks are the properties and unlike the make-believe game this one WILL be played to conclusion! Only Dover, Nashville, Pocono, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway are independent from the SMI and ISC track grab! Indy isn't going anywhere so that leaves Dover and Pocono for the two mega-companies to fight over. (Nashville comes along with Dover) In addition to grabbing these tracks for the real estate value the most important thing these tracks have are NASCAR Sprint Cup dates. Maybe whoever buys these tracks will keep those races at those locations. Usually the facilities get a much needed face lift when the big companies buy them out. But in the past we have seen dates shifted to Texas or California to play in front of bigger crowds. Are Pocono's days numbered? Will we see Dover sold too? Stay tuned as the France and Smith families continue their game of NASCAR Monopoly!

Race Grade: B-

Taking away 100 miles at Dover made those races much better! We could use 100 less miles at Pocono too. But Sunday we saw an entertaining race with lots of plot twists and turns. We are seeing more and more Cup races turn into mileage and track position affairs. While the result is still entertaining I wish to see more solid racing and a little less strategy on a weekly basis letting the best driver win more often.

F for Michael Waltrip Racing

Once again we saw a pitiful performance by MWR teams at Pocono. Michael Waltrip was the worse with an engine that lasted less than 25 laps! Maybe using recycled crap won't work. This team has had 63 entries in NASCAR Sprint Cup racing in 2008 and has one top five and two top tens to show for their effort.

D for Kurt Busch and His No. 2 Team

Maybe Kurt Busch is proving that being a former champion doesn't have as much meaning as it used to have in this sport. Once again the Blue Deuce team proved it is a team effort to be very average. Kurt Busch spun early and ran out of gas late to seal his fate of not making the Chase for the Championship this season.

C for Tony Raines

One of the best ways to check on the ability of a driver is to compare how other drivers have done in the same equipment. Last year Tony Raines helped the No. 96 team finish 25th in points for the season. This year that same team with driver JJ Yeley is outside of the top 35. This year the No. 70 team has used a variety of drivers and only one finish was better than Raines' eighteenth place finish at Pocono.

B for Tony Stewart

The winless drought continues but this week the No. 20 team looked like they are back in championship form. That elusive win is coming soon (Watkins Glen) but even more important Stewart is now better placed in the Race to the Chase. Sixty-eight points is still not a comfortable margin but he also has one more driver between him and missing out.

A for Carl Edwards and Bob Osborne

Cousin Carl wasn't too happy with the decision made by Osborne right before the rain delay but it ended up being the winning move. Edwards had to manage heavy traffic and raced his way to the front to make that strategy a winning one!

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