22nd Pocono 500:Welcome everyone to Long Pond, PA, for the Pocono 500. A hot day, with temperatures nearing 93 fahrenheit degrees.
As everyone knows, Pocono is an oval three different curves and three different straights, which are a plateful for anyone who has hand on ovals. The track does not provide exciting racing constantly, so much so that in 2004 one of the two races in Pocono will have only 400 miles.
Bobby Labonte made the second consecutive pole position in 2003. Command to start the engines is given... but Bobby Labonte will not start! And the car is towed to pit road.
In the early laps, Kurt Busch will keep the first position. Shortly thereafter, a
quartet formed in contention for the lead: he, Ricky Rudd, Ricky Craven and Robert Pressley.
In contrast, the heat brought problems: Jamie McMurray had a flat tire and had to go to the pits. Laps later, he lost the fourth gear. It was a farewell to their competitiveness.
Ricky Craven turned him into laggard. Shortly thereafter, Jimmie Johnson also had a flat tire and had to make the switch.
Gradually, was forming a bigger fight for the first position. Several cars had been fighting for positions to go vacuum and managing positions with the eyes on the prize.
The first pit window came on lap 37 and then formed an
intense drive on pit road. Greg Biffle back in front, but was overtaken by Ricky Craven with a fifth race played. Shortly thereafter, Robert Pressley came in first position with merits.
Gradually he was increasing his gap to second place until a yellow flag came on lap 64 for debris in Tunnel Turn.
The race restarted, and Pressley was increasing his advantage. On lap 72, Ward Burton had problems and had to abandon the Pocono 500.
Pressley came fast, but their opponents came back even faster. On lap 101, came the third pit window (the second was on the yellow flag) and Robert Pressley turned in front... until smoke came out of his car! Had to leave after several turns in first position.
Thus was formed a new quartet: Biffle, Craven, Rusty Wallace and Jeff Burton. Also came out on lap 109 smoke Christian Fittipaldi's car and another abandonment. This was considered a huge loss for Petty Enterprises since John Andretti DNQ'd.
Gradually they made the first latecomer in the race who had no car problems: Morgan Shepherd. On lap 133, the first yellow flag: Kenny Wallace fumbled with the car of Jamie McMurray, passing through the infield grass and taking with Jamie, Casey Mears to the wall.
Kenny Wallace also ran out of fourth gear and just messing restart the top 4 that came after him. Taking advantage of that,
Bill Elliott used the vacuum of Bobby Labonte to take the first position.
But on lap 140, Kurt Busch made a great 3-wide in Long Pond straight to reach the first position.
Stewardship ended on lap 161 when Greg Biffle took the lead. The last pit window came in lap 172, and Da Biff would have come first if they were different strategies for Dale Jarrett and Steve Park.
Dee-Jay had to change tires on lap 180, and thanks to the lousy yield Park, Biffle returned to the front, but was overtaken by Ricky Craven with 19 laps to the end.
From there, it was a great contest for the lead between Craven, Biffle, Kurt Busch and Rusty. Even the stopped car of Sterling Marlin during the short straight back 189 caused a yellow flag... but should have warned that the NASCAR officials.
A yellow flag for debris came on lap 196 of 200... the pace car would win the race, probably.
But no. The restart came with the white flag, and Ricky Craven led the Tide Ride to victory at Pocono, the fastest race in the history of track!
