Winning makes 'Triangle' less tricky for Dale Earnhardt Jr.

DALE EARNHARDT JR. started making the journey to Pocono Raceway as a youngster when his father Dale Sr. was winning races. Fifteen years ago, Earnhardt Jr. began racing at the Tricky Triangle track. Two runner-up finishes and a couple of thirds were his best performances at Pocono.

Suddenly, last year everything clicked for Earnhardt. He swept both Sprint Cup races. On Sunday, in the Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400 (1 p.m., Fox Sports 1), he'll try to become only the third driver to threepeat at Pocono.

Earnhardt credits Brandon Igdalsky, Pocono's president and CEO, for making racing at the 2.5-mile tri-oval more appealing.

"I'll be honest with you, this was a very tough, tough track when we first started coming here," Earnhardt said after winning last year's August race. "Since the repave [before the 2012 season] and since Brandon's grabbed the reins [it's better]. I was telling him that I was grateful for his passion, for what he's doing, how he's taken control of the racetrack and the improvements he's made. He's raised this place up.

"It was one of the tougher places to come to on the schedule, for lack of a better way to explain it. But he's made this place - and I know it's easy to say that after winning two races here this year - but he's made this a fun stop.

"I did not like coming here when we first [began racing]. I didn't care whether we run good or bad, it just wasn't one of my favorite stops. In the last 4 years, it's changed a lot for me, and I think that's the case for a lot of people. It's a fun racetrack, because of the odd corners, and, obviously, it's got some long straightaways and we have some great engines, we got a great motor program at Hendrick and we get to flex our muscle here."

Earnhardt, 40, frequently talks about being in a good place in his life. Last year, he won two other races, including the Daytona 500, and finished eighth in the Chase. This year, under the guidance of new crew chief Greg Ives, Earnhardt has one win (Talladega) and five third-place finishes, and is fifth in points.

Ask what his "simple joys" are and a smiling Earnhardt replies, "Amy [Reimann, his girlfriend], Redskins, my family, drinking a cold beer."

With those priorities (except for the Redskins), no wonder Earnhardt is such a popular driver.

Until Earnhardt, Denny Hamlin was the last driver to sweep at Pocono, during his rookie year in 2006. The next year, Hamlin finished sixth and third in Pocono's races.

The only drivers to win three consecutive races at Pocono are Bobby Allison (1982-83) and Tim Richmond (1986-87). Jeff Gordon has the most wins at Pocono (six).

Axalta Coating Systems and Pocono Raceway will host 100 Penn State business and engineering students during the race weekend. As part of a program designed to develop awareness and support for education in science, technology, engineering, match and business, the event will provide learning opportunities featuring Axalta, Pocono Raceway, Hendrick Motorsports and NASCAR executives, along with Jeff Gordon and his team. Bob Osborne, crew chief for 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne, is a Penn State graduate.

Qualifying for Sunday's Cup race is scheduled for 4:45 p.m. today . . . Tomorrow's ARCA series race begins at 1 p.m. (Fox Sports 2). Kyle Weatherman won the ARCA race at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville last month. Cherry Hill's Tom Hessert was runner-up . . . In Sunday's Cup race at Dover, Del., Kyle Larson's third-place finish was his season best. Kasey Kahne (fourth) tied his season best. Aric Almirola's fifth place was his top finish of the year.