Pocono Cup Race – Rain, Fuel Mileage and a Back Flip in Victory Lane

The Sprint Cup race in Long Pond, Pennsylvania was filled with drama, including a rain delay, fighting crew chiefs and drivers, and cars running out of fuel at the end of the race.  But the most impressive dramatic moment was the back flip of Carl Edwards, surviving the grueling race to finish in victory lane.

Another car that hung with the pack all day was Smoke, who finished second, hot on the trail of winner Carl Edwards.

Jimmie Johnson was strong all day long, leading the pack from the pole at the start of the race.   Although running out of gas, he still managed to bring home the Lowes car in third place.

Kevin Harvick had a drama-filled day, spinning out on the first lap, with a little help from Joe Nemechek.  Fortunately, he did not hurt the car and he rallied back, unbelievably finishing in the fourth spot.

Young David Ragan held his own all race long to round out the top five.

So many other cars were strong throughout the race, but did not get the finish they wanted or deserved.  This included Kasey Kahne, who led so many laps yet finished seventh, and Mark Martin, also strong all day and the sentimental favorite, who came in eighth. 

Both Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. were out of fuel at the end, coasting over the start finish line to take the checkered flag.  Gordon came in tenth and Junior finished twelfth.  Gordon was so low on fuel that he had to be pushed back to pit lane by teammate Casey Mears.

One of the worst finishers, next to Michael Waltrip who was out of the race early on, was points leader Kyle Busch.  He looked like he was headed for a great finish, when he ran out of fuel with only two laps to go.  He pitted, but then could not get the car started.  To add insult to injury, he also received a speeding penalty.  He finished well at the back of the pack in thirty-sixth position.

The championship points battle also was shaken up a bit.  Busch retained the points lead and Dale Junior remained in second, but Carl Edwards moved up two spots into third place because of his win. 

Jimmie Johnson stayed in fourth.  Jeff Burton ended up in fifth, losing two spots, while Jeff Gordon remained solidly in sixth place, where he has been lodged for quite some time now.

Kasey Kahne moved up two spots to seventh, while Biffle slipped to eighth, losing one spot.

Tony Stewart was up one spot to ninth, while Denny Hamlin fell two spots to tenth place.

Harvick shot up to eleventh, moving up two spots with his spectacular recovery.  Clint Bowyer rounded out the top twelve, with Kenseth falling two spots to thirteenth place, the outside man now looking in on the Chase.

This race in Pocono most certainly was one of the most dramatic in its history.   But the best part about it was again seeing Carl Edwards flip out  for the fourth time this season.