Wow, that was a strong finish!
OK, I think I’m back to “Abby Normal” so here’s the AM News:
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ALERT!!!: BLOOMIN’ MONDAY @ OUTBACK DUE TO HARVICK’S 2ND PLACE FINISH.
Earnhardt, Jr. wins at Pocono: #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the GoBowling.com 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway for his 3rd win of the season, 2nd win at Pocono [both coming this year], and 22nd career win.
Earnhardt, Jr. took the lead with 14 laps to go when he passed Biffle and withstood a late race caution to take the win. It’s the second time in his career that he has swept 2 races at a track in 1 year. He did it in Talladega in 2002.
#4-Harvick finished 2nd followed by #22-Logano, #15-Bowyer, #16-Biffle, #24-Gordon, #1-McMurray, #31-Newman, #11-Hamlin, and #5-Kahne.
Pole winner #42-Larson finished 11th.
There was a large wreck on lap 117. #11-Hamlin got loose off of turn 1, #55-Vickers checked up behind him, but ran into #20-Kesenth and a total of 13 cars were involved.
#24-Gordon (2 wins) keeps the points, but it falls to 17 points over #88-Earnhardt Jr.
#88-Earnhardt, Jr. now leads the Chase Grid with 3 wins and 2nd in points followed by #2-Keselowski with 3 wins, 3rd in points.
There were 15 lead changes among 10 drivers. There were 8 cautions for 35 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 127.411mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Pocono Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Pocono Penalty Report (pdf).
Edwards’ crew member hurt during pit stop: Ryan McCray, the 16-year veteran front tire carrier for the #99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, was taken to the infield care center at Pocono Raceway. McCray’s fingers on his left hand were pinched between the wheel and brake caliper while changing the left front tire on the first pit stop during the third caution of the race on Lap 31. Mike Lingerfelt, the front tire changer of the #99 team, explained the incident to his peer Michael Hicks, the rear tire changer on the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. “I tightened his fingers up between the wheel and brake caliper on the LF. I feel really bad about it. But @RyanMcCray99 is tough!” Matt Rawling, who is the tire carrier for the #16 RFR Nationwide Series team and a development crewmen on the #34 Front Row Motorsports Ford, filled in for McCray. Following the race, McCray tweeted: “Gotta thank everyone 4 picking up my slack today while I was watching the race in a comfy bed in the care center especially @MattyIceRacer”. McCray was treated and released from the infield care center at Pocono. He is expected to follow up with further medical evaluation when he returns to North Carolina.(Motorsport)(8-4-2014)
Current 2014 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Grid:
[after Pocono, race 21 of 36 if Chase seeding started after this race]
1) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.(X), 3 wins, 2nd in points
2) #2-Brad Keselowski(X), 3 wins, 3rd
3) #48-Jimmie Johnson(X), 3 wins, 6th
4) #24-Jeff Gordon(X), 2 wins, 1st
5) #22-Joey Logano(X), 2 wins, 7th
6) #99-Carl Edwards(X), 2 wins, 8th
7) #4-Kevin Harvick(X), 2 wins, 11th
8) #18-Kyle Busch, 1 win, 10th
9) #11-Denny Hamlin, 1 win, 21st
10) #43-Aric Almirola, 1 win, 22nd
11) #41-Kurt Busch, 1 win, 23rd
(no wins, in by points)
12) #20-Matt Kenseth, 4th
13) #31-Ryan Newman, 5th
14) #15-Clint Bowyer, 9th
15) #42-Kyle Larson, 12th
16) #16-Greg Biffle, 13th
(X) = clinched a spot in the Chase as long as rest of races are attempted.
(8-3-2014)
2014 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Championship Points Standings:
[after Pocono, race 21 of 36]
1) #24-Jeff Gordon [2 wins], 757
2) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [3 wins], 740, -17
3) #2-Brad Keselowski [3 wins], 687, -70
4) #20-Matt Kenseth, 668, -89
5) #31-Ryan Newman, 642, -115
6) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 633, -124
7) #22-Joey Logano [2 wins], 633, -124
8) #99-Carl Edwards [2 wins], 618, -139
9) #15-Clint Bowyer, 617, -140
10) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win], 611, -146
Other drivers with at least one win, out of the top 10:
11) #4-Kevin Harvick [2 wins], 608, -149
21) #11-Denny Hamlin [1 win], 532, -225
22) #43-Aric Almirola [1 win], 506, -251
23) #41-Kurt Busch [1 win], 488, -269 (176 pts ahead of 31st)
See UNOFFICIAL drivers championship points standings on the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings (pdf).
See the UNOFFICIAL owner points standings on the Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf).
(8-3-2014)