The 2006 Pocono 500 was a Nextel Cup event held at Pocono Raceway on June 11, 2006. Denny Hamlin won his first career pole, and appeared to have an easy-going day before a tire blew up causing him to nearly wreck. But Hamlin recovered, as he held off Kurt Busch for his first career victory. Points leader Jimmie Johnson finished 10th and held a 48-point lead on Matt Kenseth (5th).