When it comes to the second half of the year, teams have an advantage for a majority of the races.  The notes they have from previous races help them set up the cars for the second trip to a track.

Often times they work, and often times they don't.  The track always changes between one race to another, especially if the race is during different seasons.

But, this coming Sunday, it could be a chance of deja vu because NASCAR is already making the second trip to the Pocono Raceway.

It was just a little over a month ago that NASCAR came to the 2.5-mile triangle to do battle.

That afternoon, it was the DuPont Chevrolet of Jeff Gordon that achieved victory.  This was the same driver who last Sunday at Indianapolis nearly ran down the lead after a late pit stop to take victory, only to fall less than a second short to Paul Menard.

But, the advantage is Indy is the same length as Pocono, and for the most part has similar banking.  Could this be a good omen, or is this just some stretch thinking?

In any case, NASCAR is ready to maybe take another shot at the "tricky triangle" and someone will take the checkered flag after 200 laps.

Who it will be is undetermined.  But, our writers have determined their picks.  Here's a look at their choices for Sunday's Good Sam RV Insurance 500:

 

Misan Ayuka:  Carl Edwards

With all this talk of where Carl Edwards will go in 2012 we're forgetting why this has gone all so long.  He is leading the points.

With two wins at the tricky triangle cousin Carl will be one of the favorites to vie for the win.  Edwards has done a great job of not letting these distractions bother him and as the chase grows closer hemust continue that as he make his decison.

 

James Broomhead:  Jeff Gordon

Let me get this straight.  Every single fiber of my being thinks Denny Hamlin will win this weekend, except the part that thinks Jeff Gordon will make the trip to victory lane, and that part typed my pick.

 

Kelly Crandall:  Kurt Busch

Popular pick this week will most likely be Jeff Gordon from his Indy performance and his June win at Pocono.  However, I want to go with the driver who won the pole in June and finished second to Gordon.

Busch has been on his own roll since his team's victory at Sonoma after their very public meltdown and personnel changes. Pocono is one of his better race tracks as he showed in June and he also has two wins at the triangle.  I'm a little nervous about the 22 team bringing a brand new chassis out this weekend but hopefully it brings a new win for us both.

 

Billy Fellin:  Denny Hamlin

It is coming down to crunch time and this track couldn't fall in a better place for the 11 team. They had a rough time at Indy with the blown motor and I think that Hamlin wants another win to really lock down a Chase spot. He is money at Pocono.

 

Michael Hirshbein:  Kyle Busch

No reason given.

 

Christopher Leone:  Denny Hamlin

There's no good reason to pick against Hamlin at Pocono.  There never will be. Now more than ever, as he attempts to force his way back into the top 10 of Sprint Cup points by scoring his second win of the season.

I can guarantee that there's not a driver in the series that wants to fall back on being a "wild card," especially not the guy who almost won it all last year.

 

Kara Martin:  Denny Hamlin

No reason given.

 

Ryan O'Hara:  Jeff Gordon

He has the momentum and I think he'll sweep at Pocono this year.

 

Dustin Parks:  Carl Edwards

Every feeling inside me is saying to pick Gordon based on his performance last week and his previous win this year.  Some other feelings are telling me to go with Hamlin simply because it's Pocono, and we know how good he is here.

But, after a new contract with Roush, keeping him in a Ford for many years to come, I just had to go with Edwards.  He's a former winner at this track, and Roush has always been great here.  Knowing that his future plans are finalized, it will get the media off his back asking questions about it, and will allow him to focus on winning, and doing it with the No. 99 team.

That's what ultimately moved me to Edwards.

 

Sal Sigala Jr:  Kyle Busch

No reason given.

 

Rob Tiongson:  Jeff Gordon

I'm pretty sure the rest of the writers went with him but wins count in this competition. Jeff Gordon just turned 40 on Thursday but he's been showing flashes of his younger self with his steady performance all season long and he's not even peaked yet.

The circuit returns to Pocono where he won in June and he very well could sweep both races here with a win on Sunday. Gordon's No. 24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont Chevy team is just awesome at flat tracks and this has the makings for a patented win for NASCAR's newest member of Club 40.

 

Standings following Indianapolis:

Billy Fellin (690) Jeff Gordon finished second (2)

Kelly Crandall (690) Jimmie Johnson finished 19th (3)

James Broomhead (676) Kyle Busch finished 10th (1)

Sal Sigala Jr. (665) Jimmie Johnson finished 19th (3)

Christopher Leone (648) Jeff Gordon finished second (2)

Kara Martin (640) Tony Stewart finished sixth (1)

Ryan O'Hara (639) Jeff Gordon finished second (1)

Michael Hirshbein (635) Kyle Busch finished 10th (3)

Dustin Parks (626) Jeff Gordon finished second (0)

Rob Tiongson (607) Jeff Gordon finished second (1)

Misan Ayuka (602) Tony Stewart finished sixth (3)

 

Final Thoughts:  There's a lot of tricks to getting around Pocono.  NASCAR opened up the gear ratios in June, which brought back the art of shifting in the transmissions.  Whether it was good or bad depended on who one asked.  If you ask Tony Stewart, he'd rather not do it since he lost third gear after the midway point of the race.

But, the second race could mean a whole different game for the drivers.  We shall see come Sunday afternoon.

ESPN has the coverage starting at Noon ET with NASCAR Countdown, with the race going green an hour later.

 

Summary of Picks:

Jeff Gordon-3

Denny Hamlin-3

Kyle Busch-2

Carl Edwards-2

Kurt Busch-1