Fantasy NASCAR Scouting Report – Pocono

[themify_box ]NOTE: This post is a recap of what happened in August 2015 at Pocono[/themify_box]

Pocono Top Ten Starters

1. Kyle Busch
2. Kevin Harvick
3. Joey Logano
4. Austin Dillon
5. Tony Stewart
6. Kurt Busch
7. Matt Kenseth
8. Carl Edwards
9. Brad Keselowski
10. Jeff Gordon

Full Pocono Starting Lineup

Pocono Pre-Race Notes

Ryan Newman started in the rear of the field for a rear-end gear change.

David Ragan drove the #55.

Brian Moffitt drove the #34.

Sam Hornish Jr. drove the #9.

Pocono Race Notes

Kyle Busch won the pole and selected to start in the outside lane. He led the first 16 laps.

Big Moment: Kasey Kahne started in 16th and on lap 5 while he was running in 16th he spun down pit road and totaled his car.

Running order on lap 11: 18,4,22,41,3,14,24,19,11,78 … 88,20,2,1,10,48,15,47,43,27 … 51,42,13,16,55,31,7,17,23,40 … 34,35,46,38,6

Following lap 15 the competition caution came out. The running order at that time was 18,4,22,41,3,24,14,78,19,88 … 20,11,2,1,10,16,15,47,43,27 … 51,42,16,13,55,31,17

During the competition the main notables at the front of the field who decided to pit were Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Carl Edwards. Many of the other front runners decided to stay out.

Big Moment: On lap 20 while running side by side with Kurt Busch for the lead Kevin Harvick’s engine blew up. It marked the end for his day.

Running order on lap 28: 41,78,24,3,22,48,18,88,14,11 … 10,1,20,19,42

Big Moment: On lap 28 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Sam Hornish wrecked. Stenhouse Jr. got heavy damage and was done for the day. He was running around 28th at the time.

During the Stenhouse Jr. caution the notables who pitted were Jeff Gordon, Danica Patrick, Austin Dillon and Tony Stewart.

Running order on lap 35: 78,41,22,48,88,18,11,1,42,19 … 13,20,15,2,55,27,47,43,31,16 … 7,24,23,51,10,6,40,3,14,35

Around lap 39 the first normal round of pit stops started for those who didn’t pit during the earlier cautions.

Running order on lap 50: 22,18,88,11,1,42,20,19,15,2 … 13,55,16,27,47,24,43,3,31,10 … 14,51,40,7,6,35,9,34,46,38 … 41,78,38,83,48

Notable Moment: During green flag pit stops around lap 55 Dale Earnhardt Jr. was caught speeding on pit road and had to serve a drive through penalty.

Notable Moment: During green flag pit stops on lap 58 Brad Keselowski had pit stop problems. While he was coming to a stop he hit a few pit crew members and a tire got loose. He had to serve a pass through penalty for having an uncontrolled tire. This caused a caution shortly afterwards.

Big Moment: On lap 66 during a restart Kurt Busch spun and was then hit by Sam Hornish Jr. His car was repairable but it dropped him a few laps down which ruined his afternoon. He was running inside the top ten at the time.

After the Kurt Busch caution Denny Hamlin radioed his team and talked about having gear issues. Something was wrong with his 3rd gear. Later he said his transmission was better.

Notable Moment: During the lap 72 restart following the Kurt Busch spin, Dale Earnhardt Jr. spun. It was essentially a solo spin and he didn’t get any damage. He was running in the twenties at the time.