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Good to the last drop
Fuel mileage helps Edwards claim win No. 4 of 2008
Complete results | Race chat | Starting lineup | Pit picks
Photos | Ask the Pros! | Around the Track
Viewer's Guide
Carl Edwards won Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway with a gambling pit strategy that he thought would cost him the victory.
Edwards pitted from the lead just before a rain shower that caused a 41-minute red flag and had the driver arguing with crew chief Bob Osborne over the decision. But the strategy worked perfectly as the race wound up going to completion. Edwards stretched his last tank of fuel to earn his fourth victory of the season.
"I was really nervous that we made the wrong call there," Edwards said after doing his traditional victory backflip off his car. "Bob's the smartest guy in the world. We were really arguing. We made light of it, but we thought we made the wrong call."
Rain began falling on lap 127 of the 200-lap event and, moments later, Edwards and several other leaders ducked onto pit road. Nineteen other drivers, led by June Pocono winner Kasey Kahne and Mark Martin, who had dominated the first half of the race, stayed on track, waiting to see if the rain might end the race prematurely.
But, despite more threatening clouds and a few raindrops later in the race, the racing continued and Edwards found himself back on top for good when Martin had to pit on lap 187.
Then, Edwards, who made his final stop at the end of lap 166, just had to worry if he had enough gas to get to the end.
He made it easily, beating Tony Stewart by almost 4 seconds - half the front straightaway on the 2.5-mile trioval. Stewart and third-place finisher Jimmie Johnson, coming off a victory last week in Indianapolis, were both on the same strategy as Edwards. Johnson was one of several drivers who coasted across the finish line, out of gas.
Kevin Harvick, who crashed with Joe Nemechek on the first lap, came back to finish fourth, just ahead of David Ragan.
Complete story
Race coverage
Cautions: 7 for 31 laps
Prerace note: Due to the rain showers that hit Pocono Raceway this weekend, NASCAR has decided to throw a competition caution after Lap 20 in today's Pennsylvania 500. Teams are not allowed to refuel if they stop prior to the competition yellow.
Caution 1 / Laps 2-4: Joe Nemechek went underneath Kevin Harvick and hit his left rear quarter panel, sending the No. 29 for an early spin. There was a lot of smoke in Turn 2 but no major damage. After the incident, Joe Nemechek went into the pits so his team could repair his front splitter.
Free pass: None.
Caution 2 / Laps 9-11: Kurt Busch gets loose coming off Turn 3 and spins out of control on the frontstretch. He avoids damage and is able to limp to pit road for new tires.
Free pass: Juan Pablo Montoya (43rd).
Caution 3 / Laps 22-24: As noted in prerace, NASCAR has thrown a competitino caution so teams can check tire wear after the rain showers earlier this weekend. Michael Waltrip stayed out to lead a lap, but then gave up the position to Jimmie Johnson.
Free pass: None.
Caution 4 / Laps 67-70: Debris in Turn 2.
Free pass: Michael McDowell (38th).
Caution 5 / Laps 89-92: Debris in Turn 3.
Free pass: Regan Smith (40th).
Lap 100: We have reached the halfway point of today's Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500. Polesitter Jimmie Johnson got the lead during the last round of pit stops and held off an early challenge from Jeff Gordon to keep the point. Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Gordon and Matt Kenseth round out the top five. Keep an eye on the weather as rain may shorten the race.
Caution 6 / Laps 128-134: Rain has started to fall at Pocono Raceway. It is not a downpour, so leaders come into the pits for fuel and tires. A very interesting mix of strategy as Kasey Kahne stays out while other leaders pit. The revised top five as we head to the restart is Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle and Mark Martin. A total of 19 drivers did not pit.
Free pass: Chad McCumbee (41st).
RED FLAG - 4:50 p.m. ET: NASCAR is displaying the red flag so jet dryers can go on track and attempt to dry it.
RED FLAG RESCINDED: NASCAR has called drivers back to their race cars and we should resume racing soon. The red flag lasted just over 41 minutes
Caution 7 / Laps 139-145: Paul Menard and Joe Nemechek got into each other in Turn 2 to bring out the caution. It appeared that Nemechek lost control and ran up into Menard. During the caution, rain drops have begun falling in the area again.
Free pass: Robby Gordon (42nd) - Now one lap down.
Lead changes: Jimmie Johnson (pole), Mark Martin (1-22), Michael Waltrip (23), Jimmie Johnson (24-35), Mark Martin (36-53), Carl Edwards (54), Mark Martin (55-67), Scott Riggs (68), Carl Edwards (69-89), Jimmie Johnson (90-110), Carl Edwards (111-118), Dale Earnhardt Jr (119), Matt Kenseth (120-121), Carl Edwards (122-127), Kasey Kahne (128-154), Greg Biffle (155-156), Kurt Busch (157-161), Matt Kenseth (162), Carl Edwards (163-165), Jimmie Johnson (166), David Ragan (167), Jamie McMurray (168-169), Bill Elliott (170), Kasey Kahne (171-184), Mark Martin (185-186), Carl Edwards (187-200)
Off the track: Michael Waltrip (engine), Paul Menard (accident), Joe Nemechek (accident), Juan Pablo Montoya (engine), J.J. Yeley (out of fuel)
Starting in the back: Scott Riggs (engine change)
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Rain cancels Pocono practice
Practice Speeds: First
The final practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway was rained out Saturday.
The 43 starters will have to make do with Friday's hour practice in preparation for Sunday's Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500. The race-day forecast called for sunshine and a high of 72 degrees.
Practice 1 recap: Good news, bad news for Johnson
While there are there are no tire problems this week, the leaderboard at Pocono Raceway is starting to resemble Indianapolis Motor Speedway's last weekend.
Coming off his victory at Indianapolis, Jimmie Johnson started the weekend quick at Pocono, setting a fast lap of 166.784 mph.
Like qualifying last week, Mark Martin finished just behind Johnson with a best effort of 166.380 mph.
Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon and Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top five in the 90 minute practice session.
All 44 drivers entered into this weekend's race set laps in the session.
Most drivers focused on qualifying setups, but some spent extra time on race setup due to possible rain showers Saturday.
Not everything went perfectly for Johnson however. After the session, his No. 48 Lowe's team had to fix a transmission issue. However, they were able to make the repairs necessary without a full transmission change, so they will be allowed to keep their qualifying position and not drop to the rear.
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Johnson stays hot, claims Pocono pole
Qualifying results | Lineup
Mark Martin has a warning for everyone in NASCAR's Sprint Cup series: Look out for Jimmie Johnson.
Johnson won his second pole in a row and third of the season Friday at Pocono Raceway, knocking Martin off the top spot in qualifying for the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500.
Coming off a second-place run at Chicago and a victory last week at Indianapolis, it appears Johnson has found his stride after a relatively slow start for the two-time reigning Cup champion.
"What I saw last weekend, because I watched pretty close, and what I saw this weekend, the field should be very frightened," Martin said. "I ran that lap and (crew chief) Tony Gibson was telling me how awesome it was and everything. I said, 'Man, if Jimmie can beat that, he can have it.'
"Well, he not only beat me, he humiliated me by 2 tenths (of a second). Those guys are looking pretty potent right now."
Martin turned a lap of 167.560 mph that looked like it probably would hold up for his first pole since 2001. But Johnson moved him to the outside of the front row for Sunday's race with a sizzling 168.215.
"It was a very smooth and comfortable lap," said Johnson, who now has 16 career poles.
Johnson and the No. 48 Chevrolet team got off to what, for them, was a slow start this season, struggling to figure out the Car of Tomorrow. But things seem to be falling into place now.
"We've really improved on things since last spring," said Johnson, fourth in the season points with six races to go until the start of the 10-race Chase for the championship.
"I think we've gone in the right direction. There has been a lot of hard work throughout all of Hendrick Motorsports and it's nice to see it coming together. I'm glad I did my job and hit my marks. It's a very technical track, a lot like Indy, where it's easy to miss one of the corners."
While Johnson is pleased with his recent surge, he is trying hard not to get ahead of himself.
"Right now, our first goal is that we've got to make the Chase," he said. "One thing I'm proud of this team for is we never want to be fat and happy. With six races until the start of the Chase, there's a lot of time for (other) guys to figure things out. We need to act like a top-five team and run like a top-five team. We'll reflect on what we accomplished at the end of the year, so let's just stay hungry."
Complete story
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Darrell Waltrip
Saying thanks
Times are tough in America, especially in the auto industry. But there are still things to be grateful for this Thanksgiving, DW says.
Jeff Hammond
Hangin' Chad
If NASCAR is a team sport, Jeff Hammond wonders why the champions banquet doesn't let crew chiefs like Chad Knaus speak.
Larry McReynolds
Group think
The drivers may get all the glory, but Larry McReynolds says it's really the team that makes the difference.
Steve Byrnes
Reign maker
The layout of Homestead-Miami Speedway makes it a great place to race — and a great place to crown a champion, Steve Byrnes says.
Mike Joy
Built for excitement
Richmond has a rich racing history, one that included thrilling action even before NASCAR's time, says NASCAR on FOX's Mike Joy.
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| OWNER POINT STANDINGS |
| Pos |
+/- |
Driver |
Car |
Points |
| 31 |
+177 |
Dave Blaney |
Toyota |
2882 |
| 32 |
+167 |
Regan Smith |
Chevrolet |
2872 |
| 33 |
+139 |
Reed Sorenson |
Dodge |
2844 |
| 34 |
+65 |
Robby Gordon |
Dodge |
2770 |
| 35 |
-- |
Brian Vickers |
Toyota |
2705 |
| 36 |
-13 |
Marcos Ambrose |
Toyota |
2692 |
| 37 |
-80 |
AJ Allmendinger |
Dodge |
2625 |
| 38 |
-126 |
Sam Hornish Jr. |
Dodge |
2579 |
| 39 |
-337 |
Ken Schrader |
Toyota |
2368 |
| 40 |
-409 |
Bill Elliott |
Ford |
2296 |
| Complete Owner Standings |
| Track Information |
| On Track With Larry Mac |
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Larry McReynolds, NASCAR on FOX analyst, scouts the track
Read his full analysis. |
| Track Vitals |
Location:
Long Pond, PA |
Distance/Track Type:
2.5 Mile Tri-Oval 6-14 degree bank |
Nextel Cup Top Race Speed:
144.892 by Rusty Wallace on 7/21/1996 |
Nextel Cup Top Qualifying Speed:
172.533 by Kasey Kahne on 6/11/2004 |
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