The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Harvick reigns at Pocono to start twinbill
Kevin Harvick starts a doubleheader weekend at Pocono by fending off Denny Hamlin to win. Pocono will host a second race this afternoon, with drivers on the lead lap June 27 inverted for starting order.
FULL STORY ON PAGE C4
LONG POND, PA. » Kevin Harvick snapped an 0-for38 drought at Pocono Raceway, taking the checkered flag June 27 at one of two tracks where victory had eluded him.
Harvick won the first of two NASCAR Cup races in front of no fans this weekend at Pocono and will start 20th on Sunday with the field set by inverting the lead-lap finishers.
The 44-year-old California driver has won at every active track except Kentucky Speedway (nine tries) and the 2014 series champion has three wins overall for Stewart-Haas Racing this season.
Harvick held off a hardcharging Denny Hamlin for his 52nd career Cup victory. He had 12 top-five finishes in his other 38 starts at Pocono.
He held off on the celebratory burnout — Harvick needs the same car for June 28’s race.
“That’s great to finally check Pocono off the list,” Harvick said.
Ryan Preece finished 20th and will start on the pole Sunday.
The race was scheduled as the second Saturday, but rain washed out the Truck Series race. That sets up a small slice of history June 28: Truck, second-tier Xfinity and Cup will all run June 28. It’s the first time three NASCAR National Series races will race on the same day at the same track.
NASCAR wanted the trip to Pocono to settle one of the most tumultuous weeks in its history after a noose found in Bubba Wallace’s stall last week at Talladega led to a federal investigation. The incident was not ruled a hate crime. NASCAR President Steve Phelps stated “the noose was real,” though it remains unknown who tied it. Wallace, who sparked NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag, has become NASCAR’s advocate for social change and acknowledged his time in the national spotlight left him “wore the hell out.” He finished 22nd in the No. 43 Chevrolet.
The weekend should have been one of the wildest ones in Pocono history. Track officials were optimistic the infield would be jam packed with race fans who wanted to experience four NASCAR races in two days.
“The infield would have been a sight to be seen, one that probably hasn’t been seen on the NASCAR circuit in decades,” Pocono CEO Nick Igdalsky said. “We just couldn’t see it this year. Hopefully, next year we get the opportunity to really show what we can put out here.”
Brad Keselowski, who raced to his lone Pocono win in 2011, tweeted a love letter of sorts tied to his memories of the track that date to his childhood when he tagged along to watch his father, Bob, compete in ARCA races.