Kyle Busch Beats Mother Nature For The Win at The 38th Annual Pocono 400

Kyle Busch removes his helmit after making his noted bow to the fans after winning his 55th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event. Dean Patton Photo.

Long Pond, PA - RIS - Kyle Busch takes his 55th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win to the Mountains of Pennsylvania. Fifty-five wins puts him in great company in that he has tied NASCAR Hall of Fame alum, Rusty Wallace on the all-time win leader board with his win of the 38th Annual Pocono 400.

Kyle Busch has taken his #18 Toyota to victory lane four times this season, and his 55th win in the series. Most impressive indeed, but this year he’s dealing with a new set of rules. The big part of those rules was a change to down-force on the rides. It appears to have paid off for his team as well as the other teams in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series events. The drivers are happy with the rule change and it is most evident in the competition at the events. 

Not only did Kyle Busch battle 32 other starters he also battled Mother Nature. It was supposed to Rain at 10:00 this morning, it was supposed to Rain at 11:00 this morning, then 2:00 this afternoon, and all Pocono International Raceway was subject was one powerful race. Pennsylvania has been pummeled with storms all week, and when push came to shove, the fans of NASCAR Racing were treated to the best. They were treated to the best by Mother Nature, Pocono International Raceway, NASCAR, and surely Kyle Busch wheeling the M&M’s Hazelnut Toyota #18.

Finishing second was Brad Keselowski running the Wabash National Ford #2, who really after the final restart on lap 150 had nothing left in the tank to challenge Kyle Busch. Third went to Erik Jones in the Dewalt Toyota #20. Fourth place finisher was Chase Elliott the chauffeur of the NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet #9. Rounding out the Un-official top five was Clint Bowyer in the  HAAS Automation Ford #14.

This was truly a great fan weekend at the Pocono International Raceway with plenty of action on the track, in the infield, and all the great fan activities outside the track. From rides for the kids, to music for the adults, and one very full camping area within the Tricky Triangles confines. Next year the track will host one solid weekend of racing as NASCAR will only visit once for the 2020 season and they will hold two 400 Mile events. The best part is that the fans will not see an increase in ticket costs, but will be able to pack in two great race events into one single weekend of excitement for sure.

See you at the track.

Fin Str Car Driver Team Laps Stage 1 Pos Pts Status Tms Laps Playoff Pts
1 2 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Hazelnut Toyota 160 40 Running 4 79 5
2 5 2 Brad Keselowski Wabash National Ford 160 3 4 50 Running 1 4
3 4 20 Erik Jones DeWalt Toyota 160 34 Running
4 12 9 Chase Elliott NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet 160 33 Running 1 2
5 3 14 Clint Bowyer Haas Automation Ford 160 32 Running 1 2
6 6 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Office Toyota 160 31 Running 1 1
7 16 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford 160 8 2 42 Running
8 9 41 Daniel Suarez Haas Automation Demo Days Ford 160 7 10 34 Running 1 9
9 1 24 William Byron Hendrick Autoguard Chevrolet 160 2 3 45 Running 2 25
10 13 10 Aric Almirola Valley Technical Academy Ford 160 5 33 Running
11 21 1 Kurt Busch Monster Energy Chevrolet 160 6 31 Running
12 17 12 Ryan Blaney Menards/Libman Ford 160 6 30 Running
13 23 8 Daniel Hemric # Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Chevrolet 160 9 26 Running 1 3
14 24 37 Chris Buescher Kroger Thrill of the Grill Chevrolet 160 8 26 Running
15 15 88 Alex Bowman Axalta Chevrolet 160 22 Running
16 19 6 Ryan Newman Wyndham Rewards Ford 160 5 27 Running
17 22 95 Matt DiBenedetto Toyota Express Maintenance Toyota 160 20 Running
18 14 21 Paul Menard Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford 160 10 20 Running
19 8 48 Jimmie Johnson Ally Chevrolet 160 18 Running
20 28 34 Michael McDowell Dockside Logistics Ford 160 17 Running
21 26 43 Bubba Wallace Victory Junction Chevrolet 160 7 20 Running
22 11 4 Kevin Harvick Busch Light Father's Day Ford 159 4 22 Running
23 29 47 Ryan Preece # Kroger Chevrolet 159 14 Running
24 32 15 Ross Chastain(i) Low T Center Chevrolet 159 0 Running
25 34 51 Bayley Currey(i) Jacob Companies P-40 Warhawk Ford 159 0 Running
26 7 42 Kyle Larson Credit One Bank Chevrolet 159 1 1 31 Running 2 35 2
27 25 13 Ty Dillon GEICO Chevrolet 158 10 Running
28 35 27 * Reed Sorenson VIPRacingExperience.com Chevrolet 157 9 Running
29 36 77 Quin Houff Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 157 8 Running
30 27 38 David Ragan ExploriaResorts.com Ford 156 7 Running
31 31 00 Landon Cassill(i) Madison Group Chevrolet 154 0 Running
32 18 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Fastenal Ford 146 5 Accident
33 30 36 Matt Tifft # Surface Sunscreen Ford 128 4 Running
34 37 52 JJ Yeley Steakhouse Elite Chevrolet 110 3 Running
35 20 19 Martin Truex Jr. Bass Pro Shops Toyota 91 9 4 Engine
36 33 32 Corey LaJoie VisoneRV Ford 68 1 Accident
37 10 3 Austin Dillon Dow Chevrolet 28 1 Accident
Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 58 Mins, 9 Secs. Average Speed: 134.718 MPH Margin of Victory: 2.224 Seconds
Stage 1 Top 10: 42, 24, 2, 4, 10, 12, 41, 22, 19, 21
Stage 2 Top 10: 42, 22, 24, 2, 6, 1, 43, 37, 8, 41
Race Comments: Kyle Busch won the 38th running of the Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway, his 55th victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Prior to the start of the race, the following cars dropped to the rear of the field under penalty for the reasons indicated: Nos. 95 (engine change) and 52 (unnapproved adjustments).
Failed to Qualify: None.
Caution Flags: 8 for 28 laps; Laps: 22-24 (Competition Caution [52]); 30-33 (#3, 21 Incident Turn 3 [27]); 52-55 (Stage 1 Conclusion [77]); 58-60 (#95 Spin Turn 2 [None]); 62-64 (#36 Spin Turn 2 [95]); 70-72 (#32 Debris Short Chute [38]); 102-105 (Stage 2 Conclusion [51]); 148-151 (#17 Contact With The Wall Turn 2 [34]).
Lead Changes: 13 among 9 drivers; W. Byron 1-22; K. Larson 23-51; B. Keselowski 52-55; K. Busch 56-72; C. Bowyer 73-74; K. Busch 75-94; C. Elliott 95-96; K. Larson 97-102; K. Busch 103-123; D. Hamlin 124; D. Suarez 125-133; W. Byron 134-136; D. Hemric # 137-139; K. Busch 140-160.
American Ethanol Green Flag Restart Award : Kyle Busch, #18 Busch Pole Award : William Byron, #24 173.494 mph
Fastest Lap : Kyle Busch, #18 Moog Go the Extra Mile : Aric Almirola, #10 crew chief John Klausmeier, 0.510727 seconds
Sunoco Rookie of the Race : Daniel Hemric, #8
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series

Dean Patton

I have been a Photojournalist for RIS-news for the past ten years more or less. I was a shooter for a Minority Publication here in Reading, PA. Unfortunately the publisher passed away ending the publication. Mike took me onboard the following February while covering Daytona freelance. I also shoot Football, Professional Boxing, and Pennsylvania Dirt Track Racing. Hailing from Reading, Pennsylvania what else would I do. In my real life I am also a sitting Magisterial District Judge... sports coverage is my escape!

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Volume 2019, Issue 5, Posted 6:18 PM, 06.02.2019