Bowyer scores Stage 2 win at Pocono, pit road strategy shakes up finish
Staff Report
Jeff Zelevansky | Getty Images
STAGE 2: Results | MORE: Pocono leaderboard
Clint Bowyer won Stage 2 of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton's 400 at Pocono Raceway as the closing laps saw pit road strategy shake up the running order in a big way.
With four laps to go, the front two of Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin led a brigade of cars down pit road to set up having to need just one stop for the remainder of the race. Bowyer stayed out to earn the playoff point and 10 points for the stage win -- his first of the season in his No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.
Brad Keselowski finished the stage second followed by Danica Patrick in third. Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman rounded out the top five. The drivers that stayed out for the finish of Stage 2 -- such as Bowyer -- would then pit under caution following Stage 2.
Three-time Pocono winner Jimmie Johnson hit the wall off of Turn 3 on Lap 58 to bring out the race's third caution, an incident that would end the day for the driver of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Kyle Larson was running in the top five before the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet lost its drive shaft and went to the garage before returning on Lap 83.
RELATED: Car part flies off Larson's No. 42 | Johnson spins out at Pocono
Finish
Driver
Team
Race points
1.
Clint Bowyer
Stewart-Haas Racing
10
2.
Brad Keselowski
Team Penske
9
3.
Danica Patrick
Stewart-Haas Racing
8
4.
Kurt Busch
Stewart-Haas Racing
7
5.
Ryan Newman
Richard Childress Racing
6
6.
Kasey Kahne
Hendrick Motorsports
5
7.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Roush Fenway Racing
4
8.
Trevor Bayne
Roush Fenway Racing
3
9.
Michael McDowell
Leavine Family Racing
2
10.
AJ Allmendinger
JTG Daugherty Racing
1
STAGE 1 RECAP: Results
Kyle Busch grabbed the lead back from Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Matt Kenseth with nine laps to go to win Stage 1 of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton's 400 at Pocono Raceway.
Busch led 30 of the 50 laps in Stage 1 for his eighth stage win of the season.
Points leader Martin Truex Jr. finished Stage 1 in second, followed by Kevin Harvick in third. Brad Keselowski and June Pocono race winner Ryan Blaney rounded out the top five.
The first lap was eventful with a wreck involving eight cars, triggered by a spin in Turn 3 by the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driven by Matt Kenseth. Aric Almirola, Austin Dillon, Danica Patrick, Paul Menard, Michael McDowell, Chris Buescher and Matt DiBenedetto were involved in the incident as well.
RELATED: Kenseth triggers multi-car wreck on Lap 1 at Pocono