Sprint Cup 2011: Race 14: Pocono Results

Aside from the series’ points leader finishing dead last among legitimate competitors, Carl Edwards finishing in 37th just above the six pack of slugs who only showed up to stand in NASCAR’s welfare line, the Five Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway was a race for the experienced successful drivers. Aside from Carl Edwards, the only drivers who did not finish in the top 20 who won this year or last are: Tony Stewart (14) 21st, Brad Keselowski (#2), 23rd, Greg Biffle (#16) 27th, and Jaime McMurray (#1) in 33rd in what continues to be a dreadful season for the Ganassi/Earnhardt entry.

Here are the top 20 finishers:
1- Jeff Gordon, #24, Chevrolet
2- Kurt Busch, #22, Dodge
3- Kyle Busch, #18, Toyota
4- Jimmie Johnson, #48, Chevrolet
5- Kevin Harvick, #29, Chevrolet
6- Dale Earnhardt Jr., #88, Chevrolet
7- Juan Pablo Montoya, #42, Chevrolet
8- Matt Kenseth, #17, Ford
9- Ryan Newman, #39, Chevrolet
10- Martin Truex Jr., #56, Toyota
11- Joey Logano, #20, Toyota
12- Kasey Kahne, #4, Toyota
13- David Reutimann, #00, Toyota
14- Paul Menard, #27, Chevrolet
15- Regan Smith, #78, Chevrolet
16- Clint Bowyer, #33, Chevrolet
17- David Ragan, #6, Ford
18- Mark Martin, #5, Chevrolet
19- Denny Hamlin, #11, Toyota
20- Jeff Burton, #31, Chevrolet

While Jeff Gordon would make “The Chase” if the field were set right now for being the only driver in the top 20 with two wins, since he only has five top fives including his two victories, he is not yet in the top ten the other threshold for making the field. Despite Carl Edwards dreadful day, he still remains atop the field but now in easy reach of Jimmie Johnson, now just six points back. Is the sixth consecutive championship paranoia setting in yet? However, Dale Earnhardt Jr. without a single win is only -11 off the pace. Several drivers besides Gordon, advanced two places in the standings. These include: Juan Montoya (13th), Martin Truex – welcome to the top 20, Joey Logano (23rd), and Regan Smith (27th). No driver slid more than two places; they are A.J. Allmendinger (18th), Marcos Ambrose (21st), and the ill-fated #1 car, Jaime McMurray (29th).

Denny Hamlin’s strong showing at the beginning of the race at a track where he’s been successful in the past looked like he was making his surge to get solidified in the top ten, but his car’s handling went away and his 12th place finish knocked him down to 12th place.

We were pleased to see the safety enhancements adding the inside SAFER barriers along the back stretch which should prevent another tragedy like Elliot Sadler’s wreck in 2010, but there still is a substantial amount of aluminum barriers on inside track surfaces.

If the Chase Field were set today:
1- Kevin Harvick, 3 wins
2- Kyle Busch, 2 wins
3- Matt Kenseth, 2 wins
4- Carl Edwards, 1 win
5- Jimmie Johnson, 1 win
6- Dale Earnhardt Jr. (pts.)
7- Kurt Busch (pts.)
8- Clint Bowyer (pts.)
9- Tony Stewart (pts.)
10- Ryan Newman (pts.)

Wild Cards:
1 – Jeff Gordon (2 wins)

No other winners are in the top 20. Brad Keselowski is in 22nd place.

Next week the traveling caravan lands in Brooklyn, Michigan for their first of two races in the Irish Hills, a leisurely Sunday drive from Detroit, the capital of the auto industry in what has traditionally been seen as a fuel mileage track.

The big question of the week after the Texas truck race, are fans outraged that a senior citizen, Richard Childress would punch out Kyle Busch, or are they outraged it was Childress who got the chance, not them, to wipe that irritating smirk off of the brash driver’s snarky little kisser.


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