Carl Edwards Cruises To NASCAR Sprint Cup Victory At Pocono Raceway
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Aug 04, 2008
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Carl Edwards certainly had an eventful and trying day at Pocono Raceway.
He argued with his crew chief, overcame a torrential downpour and nearly saw a checkered flag slip through his fingers.
But Edwards ultimately emerged victorious in yesterday’s rain-plagued Pennsylvania 500, using a tactical pit strategy gamble to claim his fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win this season.
It was the 11th career victory for Edwards, who finished nearly four seconds ahead of Tony Stewart to win at Pocono’s 21/2-mile oval for the second time in his career.
Edwards and several other race leaders had pitted minutes after rain began falling on lap 127 of the 200-lap NASCAR Sprint Cup race Sunday at Pocono Raceway. Nineteen other drivers, taking a gamble on the possibility of a rain-shortened race, had stayed on track.
“The argument came from when it started raining real hard, then we were trying to blame one another for the idea of coming (onto pit road),” Edward said. “Bob said it was my idea and I really felt like it was his idea. I had to leave the pit box because I was worried Bob was going to, like, punch me in the neck or something.
“I had to walk away. But, personally, I feel like we have a good relationship. We can be perfectly honest with one another and that’s really valuable.”
Osborne said it was just the way he and Edwards work things out.
“Bob and I were really arguing,” Edwards said. “I was really nervous that we made the wrong call there. But Bob Osborne is just real smart. I’m really proud of him for the strategy. Bob did a really good job—but I wasn’t so sure when we were yelling at each other about halfway through.
“I think we were both about 51 percent for coming [to the pits], but after it started raining harder, we started blaming each other for making the call.”
Pole-sitter Jimmie Johnson was third, coasting across the finish line at the 2.5-mile triangular track after running out of fuel in the final corner.
Kevin Harvick rallied from a first-lap spin to finish fourth. David Ragan was fifth, followed by Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray and Jeff Gordon.
Kyle Busch, the points leader, ran out of gas. He finished 36th, and his lead over Earnhardt dwindled to 176 points from 253. Edwards trails Busch by 185 points.
At least there were none of the tire problems that hampered the teams the previouse week during a race in Indianapolis. This race was won by shrewd strategy, even if it did not seem so shrewd at first.
“Going into the Chase, you’re going to see a lot of heated moments,” Johnson said.
