2008 SPRINT CUP RACE 21: Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 @ Pocono

NASCAR headed back to Pocono for another 500 mile race for Race #21. The reason for scheduling the Pocono races so close together is due to the unpredictable weather in the Spring and Fall. The races must be scheduled in the summer when snow would be highly unlikely to happen. Jimmie Johnson started 2nd in the first Pocono but nabs the pole for this one over Mark Martin in the #8 car. I believe this was Mark's third 2nd place start this season, avoiding the pole so far. Mark Martin dominated the early part of the race going on to lead the most laps, hoping to score his first win for DEI since Martin Truex Jr. in 2007. Carl Edwards also showed he had the car to beat in the latter parts of the race and it turns out pit strategy would make the difference for him in the near future. Later on (after halfway), rain hit the raceway and most people decided to pit under caution due to the belief that the rain wouldn't last long. Carl Edwards was one of them to pit. Kasey Kahne, winner of the first Pocono this year, stayed out however to take over the race lead, banking on NASCAR ruling the race official. Had the race restarted, he would have to pit one more time than those who came in to pit before the delay. Well the race did restart, which put Kahne and Mark Martin (also staying out) in a situation. They had to pit in the closing laps which put Carl Edwards in the lead. Due to that, Carl went on to cruise home to his fourth win of the year. Despite having to pit, Kahne and Martin still came home with Top 10 finishes due to being Top Five cars all day. Five Chevys, three Fords, one Dodge and one Toyota got Top 10 finishes.

The Top 10:
1. #99 Carl Edwards (Ford)
2. #20 Tony Stewart (Toyota)
3. #48 Jimmie Johnson (Chevrolet)
4. #29 Kevin Harvick (Chevrolet)
5. #6 David Ragan (Ford)
6. #07 Clint Bowyer (Chevrolet)
7. #9 Kasey Kahne (Dodge)
8. #8 Mark Martin (Chevrolet)
9. #26 Jamie McMurray (Ford)
10. #24 Jeff Gordon (Chevrolet)

NASCAR would now head to Watkins Glen, NY for the second road race.