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[/media-credit]What a beautiful track. What greenery. What a nice day. What good announcers, who were both informative and entertaining even when the race on TNT might not have always been. I’m not a die hard fan of Pocono, but I enjoyed my Sunday. Maybe I’m just getting soft in my old age. Come to think of it, when I touch my belly it is soft, but that is a tale for another time.
Joey Logano, the 22-year old kid some think should be better than he is, won the thing for Joe Gibbs Racing. His second victory of his career moves him to a 14th place tie with Ryan Newman in the standings, and just one win or 26 points out of a Chase place with a dozen races to go before the reset. It might be a tad early to cast Logano aside just yet.
No win for Dale Earnhardt Jr, but he had a dominating car for much of the event. Eighth on the track, second in the standings, but a win or two would be helpful going into the Chase with the rejigged points. Mark Martin’s part time schedule means he won’t be in the running, but he was a solid number two when they came to the checkered flag last weekend. Jeff Gordon was 19th, leaving him 22nd in the standings and 90 points out of tenth. Maybe Sunday in Michigan will be kinder.
That was not the case last June, with Gordon finishing 17th. He has won twice there, but none in the past decade. Denny Hamlin has gotten the win the past two spring events, so he might be a bit more pumped up. I would expect a great day for Carl Edwards, who comes in with a record of 2 wins, nine Top Fives, and a dozen Top Tens in just 15 tries. That could be good enough to move him back into the Top Ten overall and possibly sending Clint Bowyer back down. Brad Keselowski does not do well there either, but those two wins this season keeps him safe for another week.
As for Junior, he won his last race in this event four years ago, but his average finish is 15th. Twenty-five races at Michigan, four Top Fives. Did I mention he is currently second overall? Enjoy the week.
