LONG POND, Pa. -- Matt Kenseth furrowed his brow at the mere suggestion Jimmie Johnson had spiraled toward a slump.
Only a chump would count out the champ after an 0-for-11 start.
"I don't think anybody else was really being like, 'Oh man, Jimmie's finally not winning. This is our shot, he's done,'" Kenseth said. "It doesn't surprise me at all that he won those two races and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he wins this weekend."
Coming off consecutive wins in the Coca-Cola 600 and at Dover, Johnson stormed into Pocono Raceway trying to become the first driver to win three straight since 2007. The last driver to threepeat? Johnson, of course. He steamrolled to five straight victories in 2007 en route to 10 total and the second of five straight championships. He won his sixth last season and has stamped himself as a heavy favorite to add a record-tying seventh title.
Here are five things to know for today's race:
That's gotta be Kahne: Kasey Kahne is winless, has only one top five and is mired in 18th in the standings. He starts 27th today, one more sign that he won't turn his year around at Pocono Raceway. Kahne, a two-time winner at Pocono, met for an extended lunch this week with crew chief Kenny Francis to discuss the No. 5 Chevrolet's woes. "Sometimes not talking, neither of us get too upset at each other, I see that kind of hurting you at times," Kahne said. "Maybe you need to get it out there and talk about it."
Heating up: Miami and the Spurs had to play Game 1 of the NBA Finals in a near heat wave when the air conditioning went out in San Antonio. Edwards said it's just as uncomfortable inside a steamy stock car for several hours each Sunday.
Busch's start: Kurt Busch can be thankful his win at Martinsville all but assured him a spot in the Chase because the rest of his season has been close to a disaster with only two top 10s and five DNFs. Busch, who was sixth in the Indianapolis 500 in a failed attempt at The Double, hoped his front-row qualifying run at Pocono Raceway could spark his season. He starts behind Denny Hamlin today.
Curb appeal: Pocono Raceway removed the curb on Turn 2, also known as the Tunnel Turn because of its location above the entrance to the infield. The curb shot drivers up on the 2½-mile track and was widely considered one of the toughest in NASCAR. Pocono instead created a 15-foot apron designed to improve safety and let drivers feel more comfortable attempting faster speeds through the turn.
Google maps: Pocono Raceway became the first track to partner with Google Business View Program, a division of Google Maps, and Aerial Media Productions. Still photos and 360-view Photo Spheres, including the Google Tour, are being shot by Business Photo America, a Google-trusted agency.
Sports on 06/08/2014