Party in the Pocono’s 400 Race Review

Round fourteen saw a return to the Super Speedways for NASCAR but not the traditional long ovals of places like Daytona and Talladega but to the more unusual track layout of a triangle. It was the turn of Pocono Raceway and its huge 2.5 mile track that since it’s repave last year saw an exciting 2012 race but as with every track this year the form book is often ripped up as the new gen6 makes it début.

Jun 8, 2013; Long Pond, PA, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (48) during practice for the Party in the Poconos 400 at Pocono Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O

It was even harder for teams to get their cars set up for the 400 mile race as both first practice and qualifying were rained out. Under the new rules if qualifying is rained out than the starting order is to be determined by practice times, but as that had been cancelled the order was to be set by Owners points. As a result it would be Jimmie Johnson that would take the honour of pole position with the 99 of Carl Edwards beside him. But this was no much needed boost to a struggling team as he was quickest in Saturday’s opening practice session and second in the second practice session later that same day. It was widely agreed up and down the pits that Johnson was in a different time zone in speed terms and would probably have won pole and there is no doubt that the 48 is going to be the car to beat.

The green flag sees Johnson and Edwards go side by side and are joined by Clint Bowyer who started in third and takes the cars three wide into turn one. As they exit it is Edwards who has taken the lead with Matt Kenseth, who started fourth, in second place and Johnson in third. But only two laps in the ‘Tricky Triangle’ claims its first victim as Kasey Kahne has issues with his drivetrain and heads to pit row and takes his car into the garage area. While Edwards starts to put some distance between him and the chasing pack Johnson breezes past Kenseth, who looks to have almost pulled over to allow Johnson through and a lap later Kenseth also gets loose and is passed by Dale Earnhardt Jr for third. Two drivers going in opposite directions are Kurt Busch and Clint Bowyer. Kurt is showing that the speed he had in second practice was genuine as he has moved up nine places to 11th but Bowyer is going in the opposite direction and has fallen from third to eighth and seems to be struggling.

Jun 9, 2013; Long Pond, PA, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers race through turn one at the start of the Party in the Poconos 400 at Pocono Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O

But up front it is Johnson who after a slow start has now found his pace as he closes the gap on Edwards. After sitting behind him for a couple of laps on lap ten Johnson makes his move and such his speed by the time the cars reach the start finish line the 48’s lead is already over half a second. Two laps later and the lead has tripled to a lead of one and a half seconds and it is clear in these early stages that this is going to be Johnson’s race to lose. As the race passes lap 15 of the 160 lap race the top five are Johnson, Edwards, Earnhardt Jr, Kevin Harvick and Kenseth.

Lap 25 sees the cars begin their green flag pitstops and gives the teams their first chance to make adjustments as many drivers are complaining that due to the high temperatures the track is slick their cars are loose. One of the last drivers to come in is Brad Keselowski as he tries to stretch his fuel window as long as possible and also pick up a point for leading the race. After the stops have cycled through Johnson is back in the lead and has increased his lead to 3.3 seconds over Edwards.