Images from the Go Bowling 400 Sprint Cup race at Pocono in August 2013. Kasey Kahne stole this one from Jeff Gordon in the last two laps, during an exciting race that saw record breaking speeds from the Gen 6 Sprint Cup cars. Jimmy Johnson had this one in the palm of his hand until a blown tire put him in the wall. I was doing the best I could out there in the bleachers with my camera gear. Anybody out there with a NASCAR press cred want to send me to a race? I’m all ears.
NASCAR Nation comes out strong to Pocono. Being an absolutely huge 2 1/2 mile track -same as Daytona- the infield area is more than big enough for approximately one billion RVs.
Going to Pocono looks and feels like a classic horse track, like Churchill Downs, in Louisville . The main grandstand flanks the super long main straightaway, which incidentally also runs the parallel with Long John, the world’s largest toilet. Something to be proud of, Pennsylvania!
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief Steve Letarte on the radio. Get used to seeing this guy, he’s moving on to be an analyst for NBC Sports in 2015. Junior is a hot contender for the title in 2014; wouldn’t a championship be a nice way to leave the sport?
Spotters atop the main grandstand at Pocono. Like I said this place is big, and with the triangle configuration and low banking, it’s a lot more difficult to see the cars once they get out to the tricky Tunnel Turn.
The Tunnel Turn is where many of the inexperienced drivers lose it. Danica Patrick was no different today as her Go Daddy Chevrolet washed out from underneath her and triggered a wreck involving Jeff Burton, Paul Menard, and, for the second week in a row, Travis Kvapil.
Danica’s team worked on the car in the garage area, but ultimately had to call it a day.
Tazmanian road race expert Marcos Ambrose had a solid day despite some fender rubbing, ending up in the top twelve.
Matt Kenseth getting four fresh tires and fuel from his #20 Joe Gibbs Racing team.
Jimmie Johnson was one of the fastest cars all day and looked like a favorite to win until a blown tire out by the Tunnel Turn sent him into the wall and flattened the side of his Hendrick Motorsports #48.
Chad Knaus got Johnson patched up and back out there to salvage points, but his shot at winning was over.
Here’s Kasey Kahne lining up Jeff Gordon for the race winning pass in a two lap dash to the finish. Jeff Gordon got a good restart (for once) but still couldn’t resist Kahne surging around the outside.
