2007 Pocono 500 - Race

Race

The start of the race was halted by a nearly two hour rain delay as the estimated green flag was set to wave at 2:20 PM. When the race finally started, it was the same routine as last year; Hamlin leading the first lap. Although it was widely expected that Hamlin would again walk away with a victory, a caution flag set up a pit cycle. While Hamlin's crew opted for four tires, everyone else took two, and Hamlin would spend the rest of the day fighting through the field. Jeff Gordon's crew chief, Steve Letarte, called his driver in earlier than the rest of the field. With another rain shower approaching Pocono, he took the chance that all the other cars would have to pit after they did, thereby giving them the lead. Letarte's intuition proved correct as the race was called at lap 106 and Jeff Gordon ended up with his third Pocono 500 win. The actual race distance was 265 miles.

The caution for rain was called at exactly the right moment for Gordon. Right as the caution was called, Newman was in position to pass Gordon for the win. In addition, it was discovered after the race that Gordon's car had suffered a mechanical failure and would have had to spend time in the garage had the race restarted.

Top ten results:

Pos. No. Driver Car Team
1. #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports
2. #12 Ryan Newman Dodge Penske Racing
3. #1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt Inc.
4. #25 Casey Mears Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports
5. #20 Tony Stewart Chevrolet Joe Gibbs Racing
6. #11 Denny Hamlin Chevrolet Joe Gibbs Racing
7. #01 Mark Martin Chevrolet Ginn Racing
8. #5 Kyle Busch Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports
9. #17 Matt Kenseth Ford Roush Fenway Racing
10. #07 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing

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