The NASCAR Sprint Cup race scheduled for Sunday (6/5) was postponed until today, Monday (6/6) due to rain at Pocono Raceway. Kurt Busch managed to save his way to a win on the “Tricky Triangle.”
Like many of you, I was at work when the rescheduled Axalta We Paint Winners 400 race happened, so the recap is based on statistics and the NASCAR video above which you can watch like I did. I did DVR the race and will be watching it later tonight though.
The drop of the green flag had the cars fanning out to as much as seven wide going down the front stretch before getting back to two wide entering turn one. The “tricky Triangle” apparently lived up to its name both on the track as well as in the pits for some drivers. There were a total of 10 caution periods for a total of 40 laps in the 160 lap race.
There were 10 different leaders in the race that exchanged the lead a total of 14 times. Chase Elliot was at the front of the field for the most laps leading 51 laps in total. However, the most important time to lead is at the end, which is what Kurt Busch was able to do saving gas to lead the final 32 laps and capture his first win of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup season by fuel mileage.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. grabbed a second place finish with Brad Keselowski taking home a third place finish. Chase Elliot was able to finish in fourth place with Joey Logano rounding out the top five. See the complete race results for the Axalta We Paint Winners 400 at Pocono Raceway here.
Kevin Harvick holds steady as the lead in the point standings with Kurt Busch remaining in second place. Brad Keselowski moves up three spots to third place with Carl Edwards moving up a single spot to fourth. Kyle Busch falls a spot to fifth place. See the complete NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings here.
Following the Axalta 400 at Pocono there are now nine drivers with at least a single win in the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup season who all but guaranteed a spot on the 2016 NASCAR Chase. See the 2016 Chase Grid here.
The NASCAR teams head to Michigan International Speedway next for the Firekeepers Casino 400 Sunday, June 12th … if it doesn’t rain in Michigan that day.
By: Buck Stevens
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- LONG POND, PA – JUNE 05: Crew members work on the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, driven by Jimmie Johnson(not pictured), prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 5, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Trotman/NASCAR via Getty Images)
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- LONG POND, PA – JUNE 05: Crew members push tires through the garage area during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 5, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Trotman/NASCAR via Getty Images)
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- LONG POND, PA – JUNE 05: Crew members work on the #2 Miller Lite Ford, driven by Brad Keselowski(not pictured), prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 5, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Trotman/NASCAR via Getty Images)
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- LONG POND, PA – JUNE 06: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, and Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, lead the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 6, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/NASCAR via Getty Images)
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- LONG POND, PA – JUNE 06: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 6, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)
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- LONG POND, PA – JUNE 06: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s 75th Anniversary Toyota, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 6, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
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- LONG POND, PA – JUNE 06: Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, leads Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s 75th Anniversary Toyota, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 6, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
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- LONG POND, PA – JUNE 06: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 6, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Trotman/NASCAR via Getty Images)
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- LONG POND, PA – JUNE 06: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s 75th Anniversary Toyota, races Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 6, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
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- LONG POND, PA – JUNE 06: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet, leads Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet, and Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 6, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)
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- LONG POND, PA – JUNE 06: Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 Nature’s Bakery Chevrolet, drives to pit road after being involved in an on-track incident during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 6, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/NASCAR via Getty Images)
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- LONG POND, PA – JUNE 06: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, leads Carl Edwards, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 6, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
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- LONG POND, PA – JUNE 06: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet, leads Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 6, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
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- LONG POND, PA – JUNE 06: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 6, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/NASCAR via Getty Images)
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- LONG POND, PA – JUNE 06: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 6, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)
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- LONG POND, PA – JUNE 06: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 6, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Trotman/NASCAR via Getty Images)
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- LONG POND, PA – JUNE 06: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 6, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
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- LONG POND, PA – JUNE 06: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet, places the winner’s decal on his car in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 6, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Trotman/NASCAR via Getty Images)
