“It was a crazy day for the Target team. We had a good starting position [7th], and it became apparent pretty quick that we had some work to do on the car when the race started. The guys made adjustments all afternoon, and Brian [Pattie, crew chief] made some calls on pit road that put us in position to finish in the Top 10.”
–South Florida-resident Juan Pablo Montoya, who has finished in the Top 10 in all seven 2010 races in which he has completed all scheduled laps
Juan Pablo at Pocono on Sunday for Race 14 of 36 en route to crowning the Sprint Cup Champion in Miami Nov. 21:
? South Florida-resident Juan Pablo Montoya finished 8th at Pocono on Sunday, Race 14 of 36 en route to NASCAR crowning its Champions at Homestead-Miami Speedway Nov. 21
? Montoya has finished in the Top 10 in all seven races—including four Top 5s—in which he has completed all scheduled laps in 2010
? Montoya resides in the 20th spot in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings, with 12 races to go before the Chase “playoff” field is set Sept. 11
? The driver of the No. 42 needs to be in the Top 12 overall points to make the Chase cut-off on Sept. 11
? It is worth noting that a year ago, Juan Pablo rattled off nine Top 10s in a span of 14 races to vault from 15th to a Chase spot
? Montoya’s Top 8 finish Sunday equaled his finish last June at Pocono; he recorded a second-place run last August at Pocono
? This year, Montoya has started all 14 races of the Sprint Cup season but has fallen victim to an inordinate amount of engine issues and on-track tangling—which makes the following stat all the more remarkable: In the seven races in which he has completed all laps, South Florida’s hometown’er has recorded a phenomenal Top 10 finish in each race—including four Top 5s—to remain in the hunt for this year’s “playoffs,” which culminate with the 2010 Champion being crowned at Homestead-Miami Speedway Nov. 21.
? Montoya continues his points-race pursuit of the Sprint Cup Series Championship—to be crowned Nov. 21 on his “home track” of Homestead-Miami Speedway—with Race 15 of 36 at Michigan on Sunday, June 13, at 1 p.m. (TNT TV, MRN Radio)