This weekend at Pocono Raceway will be a little different than fans are accustomed to.

That's because qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ("MENCS), which is usually held on a Friday will be paired with the big event, the Overton's 400 on Sunday.Qualifying will take place at 11:30 a.m. and the Overton's 400 is scheduled to drop the green flag at 3 p.m. on Sunday. This looks like a test run for NASCAR as they've continually heard complaints from drivers in the past that some race weekends are just too long.As noted, qualifying usually takes place on a Friday, with two practice sessions on a Saturday, and then the actual race on a Sunday. This is the norm at most tracks. If NASCAR can pack all of that into two days and the fans seem to enjoy it, I think it would make sense to try it at more tracks around the circuit.Sunday's race has a lot of interesting storylines as there is just six races left before the playoffs.EARNHARDT'S LAST RIDE ... Sunday will mark the last race that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will compete in at Pocono International Raceway. Earnhardt Jr. has been good in his career at Pocono. He has two wins, with both of them coming in 2014 when he swept the summer race series at the "Tricky Triangle." He also has 11 top fives, and 15 top 10s in 34 career starts. What's even more important is how good Earnhardt has been lately, finishing fifth or better in six out of the last eight races held at Pocono. The Overton's 400 seems like the best bet for Earnhardt Jr. to earn a win and a playoff spot, but four out of the next six races are all at places where he's won. Along with Pocono - Michigan, Bristol and Richmond are all tracks the MENCS will visit before the playoffs start, so Junior Nation fans don't run out of hope just yet.I THINK I KAHNE I THINK I KAHNE ... Kasey Kahne was probably muttering the words of the little engine that could in his head when he pulled off the perfect restart in overtime to pull away from the field and win the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway just a week ago. This week, Kahne should be confident, not only because he broke a 102-race long winless streak last week, but because Pocono has always been a solid track for him. Kahne has been to the victory circle twice in 27 starts at Pocono with five top 5s and nine top 10s. Kahne's win last week could prove to be a turning point for not only this season, but his career.BACK-TO-BACK BLANEY ... It was announced this week that the driver of the No. 21 Wood Bros. machine will be taking his talents to Team PENSKE next season to drive the No. 12 Ford, which will now give it three drivers in the MENCS along with Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski. The Wood Bros. and PENSKE do have a partnership, so technically Blaney isn't really going anywhere, just switching cars. Blaney is also trying to make headlines this week as he will be looking to sweep the summer series at Pocono. Blaney got his first career MENCS win at the June Pocono race. He will be trying to join fellow active drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, and Jimmie Johnson, who all were to complete the sweep at the "Tricky Triangle."