Race Report - Pennsylvania 500

FINAL RESULTS:
1. Kurt Busch, Dodge
2. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Chevrolet
3. Denny Hamlin, Chevrolet
4. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet
5. Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet
30. Bobby Labonte, #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge
34. Kyle Petty, #45 Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Dodge

OVERVIEW:

Bobby Labonte and the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team started the day in the 26th position for Sunday’s Pennsylvania 500 at the 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway. The beginning of the race looked promising. Labonte moved to 21st. The team then fought an ill-handling car the rest of the afternoon. If it twisted, turned, pulled or took air the team adjusted to find a solution. Labonte raced from 25-29th most of the afternoon as the car struggled to find grip on the flat, slick track. The team lost a little ground after a miscue on the last pit stop put Labonte back to 35th. He climbed back to finish 30th at the end of the race.

“We have been fighting the car the past few races,” said Labonte. “We just never were able to get it where we wanted it today.”

Kurt Busch cruised to his first win of the season breaking a long winless streak for his #2 Penske Racing team. Busch hadn’t won in 51 previous attempts, but dominated Sunday’s race.

Busch, the 2004 series champion, started on the front row and just never looked back. It was a record breaking performance at the track. He led 175 laps in the event. Dale Earnhardt Jr. led briefly at the end of the day, but he didn’t have enough strength to hold off Busch. Busch easily won and moved to 12th and final cut off position in points. Earnhardt Jr., although finishing second, dropped back to 13th.

Kyle Petty and the #45 Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Dodge team finished 34th in Sunday’s Pennsylvania 500 after starting in the 42nd position. The team moved quickly at the beginning, but the team also suffered from lack of grip on the track. The team made various changes to the car throughout the day to get Petty back to the front. Petty was able to race back to 34th at the end of the day.

“We didn’t have the grip we needed,” said Petty. “It was a frustrating day for everyone. We ran some fast laps in the race, but track position is a big thing. We’ll look to gain ground at Watkins Glen.”

The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series now heads to Watkins Glen International for the last road course race of the season. The race will be televised live by ESPN and broadcast live on MRN Radio.