Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race Report - Pocono
July 30, 2017
Track: Pocono Raceway
Race: Overton's 400
Date: July 30, 2017
No. 2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford Fusion – Brad Keselowski
Start: 11th
Finish: 5th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 160/160
Laps Led: 6
Point Standings (behind leader): 5th (-174)
Recap: Brad Keselowski and the No. 2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford Fusion team started 11th in Sunday's Overton's 400 at Pocono Raceway for the second-consecutive weekend, and just like last week they were able to parlay that into a top-five finish after a fifth-place result Sunday afternoon. Crew chief Paul Wolfe made a great call to pick up valuable track position by making a green-flag pit stop at lap 15 to set the No. 2 Ford team up to finish fourth in the first, 50-lap stage of the day to earn seven bonus points. When a quick caution flag was displayed at the start of the second, 50-lap stage, Wolfe again brought his driver down pit road for a fuel-only pit stop that would have given the team a great opportunity to score a win in the stage. Unfortunately, an untimely caution flag flew at lap 70 to disrupt that play, but pit strategy would continue to be a hallmark of the race for Wolfe and the team. After a four-tire pit stop, Keselowski restarted in the fourth position at lap 75, and would finish the second stage in second to score nine additional bonus points. Keselowski began the final, 60-lap stage from the 11th position following his pit stop for four tires and fuel, but with an aggressive restart he was able to race his way into the fifth position in one lap. He would keep the Alliance Truck Parts machine inside the top 10 for the remainder of the race and would cross the finish line in the fifth position. The finish, combined with the 16 bonus points for the stage finishes, resulted in Keselowski garnering the second-most points on the day behind race winner, Kyle Busch.
Quote: "A strategy day for sure. Our Alliance Truck Parts Ford Fusion was okay, decent speed. I thought we had the best strategy out there, we just needed a little bit more speed."
No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Fusion – Joey Logano
Start: 10th
Finish: 27th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 159/160
Laps Led: 0
Point Standings (behind leader): 13th (-298)
Recap: Joey Logano started 10th and finished 27th on Sunday afternoon in the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Fusion in the Overton's 400 at Pocono Raceway. When the green flag fell, Logano worked forward, reaching the eighth position by Turn 2 before the caution flag was displayed for an incident on the opening lap. When green-flag action resumed, he reported the handling of the car as loose on corner entry but tight through the center of the turns. When crew chief Todd Gordon called the Shell-Pennzoil Ford to pit road for the first time at lap 17, the team adjusted with wedge and air pressure in attempt to give Logano both the entry security and the center turn he needed. The adjustments marginally improved the handling, but Logano was stuck battling dirty air until the conclusion of the first stage at lap 50, where he finished 11th. The next pit stop, Gordon would call for additional wedge and air pressure adjustments, however, an issue on the right front would slow the stop and cost valuable track position. The race would be slowed again by caution at lap 59, where Logano reported the handling to be better and the team pitted for fuel only. On the next run, Logano reported that the entry security was better, but the car was still tight in the center of the turn. The team continued to fight forward, but being out of position for stage points at the end of the second stage, Gordon called Logano to pit road at lap 97. The team would wrap up the stage in the 27th position but cycle forward after the leaders pitted at the caution. Running just outside the top-10, Logano reported his car was more competitive, and he consistently ran times comparable with the top-five. On lap 127, Logano pitted again under green, but was unfortunately deemed too fast entering pit road and was forced to serve a pass-through penalty. Further compounding the situation, the tires were flat spotted as he entered the pits for the penalty and required an additional pit stop, thus requiring an additional trip down pit road to serve the penalty. Logano would continue on and bring the Shell-Pennzoil Ford home in the 27th position.
Quote: "Unfortunately we had too many setbacks today. We had a car towards the middle part of the race that we could run in the top-10 with if we could get the track position and then a speeding penalty cost us the opportunity for that. We just have to execute together as a team and continue to fight on and we can win. We can't get down on ourselves here, we have to keep looking ahead and trying to get ourselves into the playoffs."