LONG POND, Pa. -- When the 2014 season began, Dale Earnhardt Jr. had never won at Pocono Raceway. This weekend, he's looking for his third consecutive trip to Victory Lane at the track.
How quickly things change.
“Well we won those two races by having some great pit strategy," Earnhardt said. "(Former No. 88 team crew chief) Steve (Letarte) got real aggressive on his pit calls and I think that is definitely going to be what is going to put you in position to win."
If Earnhardt were to follow up his 2014 Pocono sweep with a win in Sunday's race, he would become just the third driver in Sprint Cup Series history to accomplish that feat, joining Bobby Allison and Tim Richmond.
The driver of the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS said it doesn't shock him that so few drivers have won three straight at the "Tricky Triangle."
“It’s difficult to win, period," he said. "It’s just really difficult to win here, or anywhere. There’s a lot of tough competition out there and this place, I won’t say it’s hard to pass here because you can get around guys and race, and I do enjoy racing here. But when you get a fast guy in front of you, it’s difficult to find a flaw and sort of take advantage of that weakness because you get a guy with good speed in front of you, he’s going to be hard to get to.”
Fortunately for Earnhardt and his Hendrick Motorsports teammates, the organization's history at the track points to success this Sunday.
In all, Hendrick Motorsports has won 17 races at Pocono -- including each of the last five.
“Well, we’ve got four fast cars," Earnhardt said. "This is a horsepower racetrack where engines can make a difference. I feel like over the last several years we’ve had one of the best engine programs in the sport. So, I think we’ve just got really good stuff. Your car really, really shines here."