Kevin Harvick predicts winner of NASCAR race at Pocono

Kevin Harvick knows a thing or two about getting to Victory Lane at Pocono Raceway. He won at the track in 2020, and he was always around the top five during his lengthy NASCAR Cup Series career.

Who will join him as a victor at the Pennsylvania-based track this weekend? The former Cup Series champion and his Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour crew locked in their predictions for the Great American Getaway 400 on the latest episode of their show.

First, Kaitlyn Vincie made her pick: “I’m going with your guy, who you usually select, Ryan Blaney,” Vincie stated, alluding to Mamba Smith usually riding with the Team Penske wheelman. “The Fords will be good.”

It’s a solid pick, as Pocono is one of Blaney’s top tracks. He won there back in 2017 with the Wood Brothers, and he made it back to Victory Lane last season. We’ll see if win No. 3 comes in 2025. Vincie would be happy.

As for the aforementioned Smith, he’s a believer in a certain Joe Gibbs Racing driver: “I’m going to go with Chase Briscoe,” he explained. “It’s been a Toyota track here as of late, for some reason. Obviously, Denny Hamlin has done really well, but Chase has been having some really consistent speed. It’s time for him to get a win.”

Briscoe is still searching for his first win in the No. 19 Toyota. He’s had speed, but he hasn’t been there at the end of races. Maybe this weekend’s trip to Pocono will do him some good.

Finally, Harvick chose a familiar face to be victorious, even though he’s been struggling a bit: “I think it’s time for the No. 5 to reset. I’m going to go with Kyle Larson,” Harvick explained. “I just think there’s been too many weeks of too many things being mediocre and things happening, the things that they’ve had going on.

“I just think that, especially if those guys grit up and qualify good and get the car dialed in like it needs to be. It’s a good race track for them, so I’m going to go with Larson.”

While Larson has never won at Pocono, he’s come close. Back in 2021, he was leading into the final turn before blowing a tire, gifting the win to his teammate in Alex Bowman instead. Perhaps he could right his wrong this time around.

Alas, the Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour crew has made their predictions, and all that’s left to do is race it out. This weekend’s showdown at the Tricky Triangle should be another fascinating race in Pocono Raceway’s vast history.