Big Bear Nolan's Blog

This weekend (June 13-14), the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR Cup Series head to the mountains of Long Pond, Pennsylvania for the sport’s annual weekend at Pocono Raceway. As always, the track that is dubbed “The Tricky Triangle” because of its triangle shaped layout should hopefully be another fun weekend. And I want to try to predict who will win the two races and explain why I think this.

O’Reilly Series winner: 17 Corey Day

The young Hendrick Motorsports prospect has found his footing recently and earned his first two wins of his OAPS career at Talladega and Dover. Day, who is sitting third in the point standings goes to a track where the 17 car when it was ran part time for the HMS Cup drivers has been successful at. Just last year, Chase Elliott powered the 17 to a dominating day at Pocono just to fall in the end due to a lot of chaos. Now I know that there is a massive difference between a young driver like Day and a proven veteran like Elliott. But the one similarity both have is Adam Wall is still the crew chief of that No. 17, so if Wall can find what worked last year we might just see Day in victory lane for the third time this season.

Cup Series winner: 45 Tyler Reddick

This pick is definitely due to his massive points lead in 2026. But in the next gen, these Toyota’s have been really good at Pocono, and the 45 team especially at these big tracks have been excellent. Reddick has never won a race at Pocono in any level but has been oh so close many times. Like he was in the OAPS race in 2019 when he led going into the last corner but got loose and was passed by Cole Custer to finish second. Usually, Reddick himself is fast at this track but needs some luck. You’ll need luck this race especially with the strategy aspect but for the amount of times that the 45 has struck gold this season with the season high 5 wins. I think that Mr. Reddick this time will tame the tricky triangle and leave with a trophy.