NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Pocono Mountains 125 at Pocono Raceway on August 4, 2012
Photo – Getty Images

From dirt, to a triangular shaped race track, the Truck Series has had its variety over the past week-and-a-half. Although Eldora was unique and exciting, it’s time to move on and inch closer to crowning this year’s champion. With Pocono on the schedule for only a few seasons, drivers are figuring out the triangle quickly, making for phenomenal racing. We saw a first time winner in Joey Coulter last August, so the field is wide open for Saturday.

The Pocono Mountains 125 will race Saturday, August 3, 2013 and the green flag will wave around 1:00 PM ET. At two miles in length, Pocono takes a while to maneuver around, making the race distance only consist of 60 laps and 150 miles. Saturday’s weather forecast calls for partly cloudy skies, a high of 76 F, and only a 20% chance of rain. The race is broadcast on SPEED and fans can listen on MRN.

Last time the trucks were out in Pennsylvania, it was Joey Coulter picking up his first career win after snatching the lead away from Nelson Piquet Jr. on a late restart. Coulter also faced a challenge from last season’s champion James Buescher in the closing laps. This race also brought troubles to the then point’s leader, Timothy Peters, starting his derail from championship contender to pretender.

Even though this race is on the same weekend as the Cup Pocono race, no Cup drivers decided to race a truck. That will make for a race featuring only the truck regulars dueling it out for the win. Notable drivers coming in for this race, that haven’t been running full-time include, Todd Bodine racing for Turner-Scott Motorsports and Chad Hackenbracht in a Kyle Busch Motorsports entry. Both of those guys have raced in a truck this season, but will be looking to upset the championship contenders.

After Eldora, fans were expecting a shakeup in the standings, but that really didn’t happen. Matt Crafton finished eighth on the dirt, while Jeb Burton struggled and placed 18^th, giving Crafton a 48-point advantage heading into Pocono. James Buescher and Ty Dillon still lurk below Crafton, but being a full race out of the lead makes it more of a long haul climb the top. Timothy Peters, on an uphill climb lately, will look to continue to make up ground to the leaders, as he now sits in fifth.

Pocono is known to trick-up some drivers with three distinct turns and one mistake could put a damper in their day.The driver most aggressive will take home the trophy Saturday, because gaining the lead on a restart could be their ticket to victory lane. This isn’t a typical track and that will create a not so typical race on Saturday afternoon.

Event Schedule

9:00-11:20 AM ET (Friday) Truck Series Final Practice, not televised

10:00 AM ET (Saturday) Truck Series Qualifying, televised on SPEED

1:00 PM ET (Saturday) Truck Series’ race, the Pocono Mountains 125, televised on SPEED

Next Race- Michigan National Guard 200 at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, MI

Entry List via Jayski.com