CUP: Winners & Losers

Sprint Cup

CUP: Winners & Losers - Pocono

Big crash, dust-up between Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano leave plenty of losers at Pocono Raceway...

Jeff Owens | http://www.scenedaily.com | Posted June 07, 2010 Charlotte, NC

Denny Hamlin has a series-high four wins and looks like the driver to beat when the Chase gets here. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

A wild, last-lap crash and a controversial incident between feuding Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick gave us a long list of losers at Pocono Raceway.

And Sam Hornish Jr.’s exciting run at the front gave us at least one surprise on the winner’s list.

For a race that looked like a dud for 400 miles, this one had plenty of fireworks at the end.

Here’s a look at this week’s winners and losers.

WINNERS
Denny Hamlin – Now has a series-high four wins and looks like the driver to beat when the Chase gets here.
Kyle Busch – Another championship-caliber run has him nipping at Kevin Harvick’s heels for points lead.
Tony Stewart – His two best finishes this season (second at Bristol) came with clever pit strategy. Still, he gained three spots in points and climbed back into Chase contention.
Jimmie Johnson – But a halt to his “slump” with a typical top-five finish.
Sam Hornish Jr. – Led 16 laps and showed what he can do when he stays on the track and out of the wall.
Kurt Busch – Slapped the wall early, got a pit-road penalty and nearly went a lap down. Rallied to finish sixth for a rare streak of consistency.
Clint Bowyer – Ninth-place finish was a disappointment after leading 59 laps. Had the best RCR car for a change, but pit strategy at the end hurt him.

Watch Video! Kasey Kahne hits hard at Pocono Raceway. (Image: SPEED)

LOSERS
Joey Logano – Was headed for a top-five finish when Kevin Harvick took him out. At least he showed some spunk in going after Harvick on pit road.
Kasey Kahne – Ran well early, but wound up airborne as the victim of a vicious last-lap crash. Ended up with a wrecked car and beef with AJ Allmendinger.
Jeff Gordon – Struggled but was headed for a decent finish until getting caught up in Kahne’s crash. It cost him three spots in the standings.
Greg Biffle – Big last-lap crash cost him another spot in points. He’s now 10th and in danger of falling out of the top 12.
Mark Martin – Also involved in big crash, but must be much more concerned with how he ran.
Jamie McMurray – Taken out by David Ragan, continuing his up-and-down season. He’s spectacular one week (second in the Coca-Cola 600), and finds trouble the next.

COOL-DOWN LAP

“We had a fast car all day; it is just a shame that it had to end the way that it did. … I don’t know what AJ was doing there. I don’t ever really talk to him much, but you can bet I will be talking to him this week.” – Kasey Kahne

“I am not really sure what happened. Kasey had such a run on me and I went to defend. By the time I defended he was in the grass. That is my bad. I feel bad about that, I really do. It is what it is, though.” – AJ Allmendinger

“I don’t know what his deal is. He totally caused that whole thing. If he is driving that blue car with the 43 on the side that put Kasey into the grass then yeah, it is on him. You can’t run a guy down on the grass. You can’t run your teammate down onto the grass. That is horrible.” – Greg Biffle

"It wasn't much fun at all to be honest with you. There's so much to lose and so much chaos on the track. It's one thing when you're at Bristol going 100 mph; but when you're running 200 mph and seeing some of these moves, it was pretty crazy.” – Jimmie Johnson on the closing laps.

“It's bittersweet we didn't get to victory lane. [But] if you're going to lose to anybody around this place, it's certainly going to be the 11. [Denny Hamlin].” – Kyle Busch

SceneDaily.com • At halfway point its time to get hot for some Chase contenders

Play! SPEED Fantasy Racing and Super 7 Sweep

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeff Owens

SceneDaily.com

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