SCC preview: Stewart strong at Pocono

Pocono's tricky, triangle shape not only provides a unique challenge but also signals the beginning of the final 13 races before the Chase contenders are determined. That means several drivers need a good run Sunday to propel them toward making the season-ending playoff, while others just want to keep a good thing going.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of those who has performed well at Pocono. In the past four Pocono starts, he has posted two top-5s and placed 12th in the other two. Overall, he has finished second twice, and in 18 races, he has collected five top-5s and six top-10s along with one pole. He has failed to finish only once.

Kevin Harvick is another who hopes to turn his season around at Pocono. Mired in 24th in the standings, he has only two top-10s this season, with his most recent coming in Atlanta in March. In the past four Pocono races, his finishes have ranged from fourth to 17th.

Carl Edwards is another driver who hasn't experienced the stellar season everyone envisioned for him. Sitting 11th in points, he has put together two consecutive top-10s, but he's still winless. Pocono is definitely a track where that could change. He returns to Pocono as the winner of last August's event and finished ninth in last June's race. If Edwards can make it two consecutive Pocono victories, he would be the first to collect back-to-back wins at the track since Denny Hamlin accomplished the feat in 2006. Hamlin swept the Pocono races that year, and he's another one who has probably been looking forward to this year's first trip to the Pocono Mountains. He hasn't produced a top-10 since the season's eighth race.

For those enjoying a hot start in the season's first 13 races, don't expect things to change at Pocono.

Tony Stewart has surprised everyone in his first year as co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing. With his second place at Dover, he became the first owner/driver since Alan Kulwicki to lead the standings, and Pocono suits Stewart's driving style. In 20 races at the odd 2.5-miler, he has produced one victory, six top-5s and 14 top-10s. He's failed to finish only two events. In the track's past four races, he's finished outside the top 10 only once. In the past six races this season, Stewart has three seconds and a third.

Stewart's teammate, Ryan Newman, is also on a hot streak, jumping from 32nd to fifth in the standings in the past nine races. He has finished no lower than 16th during that time frame and has posted seven top-10s, including four straight top-5s. Last June at Pocono, Newman was battling Jeff Gordon for the lead when it began raining. The race was eventually called and Gordon declared the winner, with Newman second. Newman is one who could easily continue his hot streak at Pocono. In 14 races, he has claimed one victory, five top-5s and six top-10s. He's failed to finish only two races.

Stewart and Newman may be the bookends for the standings' top five, but don't expect the drivers in positions two through four -- Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch -- to stumble at Pocono.

Among the 10 active drivers who have won at Pocono and are entered in Sunday's Pocono 500, Gordon has the most victories with four. He is also the track's all-time lap leader, having set the pace in 19 events for 870 laps. In superspeedway competition this year, he is third in the number of points earned with 1,154.

Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Johnson, has won two of his 14 Pocono races, recorded five top-5s and nine top-10s. He also has earned the most points on superspeedways this season (1,226) and put together three top-10s in Pocono's past four races.

Busch also performs well at Pocono. In 16 races, he has won two and posted seven top-5s and eight top-10s, but he has failed to finish three events.

Don't discount Mark Martin as someone who could collect his third victory this season at Pocono. Even though the 50-year-old has never won in 44 races at Pocono, he has produced 19 top-5s and 31 top-10s, the most in each category of any NASCAR driver who has competed at Pocono. He also is No. 1 in lead-lap finishes with 36.

Note: Up to this point in 2009, the Sprint Cup Series has not raced on a track remotely close to Pocono. However, Indianapolis Motor Speedway is similar in many regards when it comes to chassis setups, so the drivers who did the Goodyear tire test there earlier this week might have a little built-in advantage for Sunday's race. Among the guys who tested in Indy this week are Jeff Burton, Juan Pablo Montoya, Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, David Stremme, Kasey Kahne, Robby Gordon and Bill Elliott.

Big bucks (SCC value 21.5 and up)

Tony Stewart (22.9) and Jimmie Johnson (22.8) are probably not going to get a whole lot cheaper and are beginning to heat up with the weather. If you don't have one of these guys, you better think about jumping on the bandwagon now. Ryan Newman (22.0) was a bargain, but no longer, and his value should continue its north direction. Down 0.5, Denny Hamlin (21.7) needs some serious consideration this week given his past performance at Pocono. In this group, I also like Kurt Busch (22.4)

Serious coin (SCC value 19.0 to 21.5)

I like Mark Martin (21.1) a lot. Kasey Kahne (20.1) should be pretty sporty this weekend, and the new Dodge engine could be pretty strong a week from now in Michigan. The big value pick in this group might be Brian Vickers (19.4). I recommended that you drop him last week at Dover and recommend that you give serious thought to picking him back up again for Pocono.

Budget boys (SCC value 13.0 to 18.0)

Given the way he's run at Pocono the past couple of seasons, Dale Earnhardt Jr. (18.6) should be considered. The No. 1 guy in this group, though, because of recent finishes and price, continues to be Joey Logano (16.7). For more track experience, Logano will also run Saturday's ARCA race at Pocono. Sam Hornish Jr. (15.6) is also on the radar screen. Also keep an eye on Casey Mears (17.9) to see if his top-10 run at Dover was a signal of more strong runs to come. You also have to believe at some point that David Ragan (15.8) is going to get it turned around.

Debit … not credit

Up on top, Jeff Gordon has cooled down, and right now you don't take him over Stewart and Johnson (a little more expensive) or Newman (a little less). While RCR tries to get things turned around, stay away from Jeff Burton. In the middle group, for the same reason I just gave, I'm keeping Clint Bowyer at arm's length. In the bottom values, Bobby Labonte continues to disappoint and so does Elliott Sadler.

Guru Garrow's gang

Going to make some wholesale changes with my pre-race team for Pocono consisting of Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers and Joey Logano.

Mark Garrow covers fantasy racing for ESPN.com.