Rookie Chris Buescher was the benefactor when heavy fog rolled into Pocono Raceway on Monday forcing NASCAR to stop the Pennsylvania 400 short of its full distance.
NASCAR Pocono 2016 results: Chris Buescher wins Pennsylvania 400
With an assist from Mother Nature, Chris Buescher scores his first career victory.
With the race official as it was past halfway, NASCAR declared Buescher the winner after completing 138 of a scheduled 160 laps. It was the 23-year-old’s first career Sprint Cup victory, coming in his 27th series start.
Brad Keselowski finished second, and Regan Smith third. Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart completed the top five.
Persistent rain forced NASCAR to reschedule the Pennsylvania 400 from Sunday to Monday. Pocono’s June Sprint Cup was also pushed back a day due to inclement weather, the first time in NASCAR history a track had two postponements in a season.
And the poor weather conditions also proved problematic on Monday. The race was delayed from its rescheduled start time due to morning showers, and at one point during the Pennsylvania 400 rain necessitated a caution that nearly ended the event just past halfway with Joey Logano leading.
With the victory, Buescher moves to six points shy of being Chase for the Sprint Cup playoff eligible. He must finish the regular season ranked 30th or better in the standings. Five races remain before the 16-driver field is determined.
Prerace favorite and pole-sitter Martin Truex Jr. asserted himself early by leading the opening 15 laps. But following a competition caution and a round of pit stops, Truex’s right-front tire failed on the ensuing restart sending him crashing into the outside wall with the No. 78 car sustaining heavy damage.
Goodyear said a valve stem on the inner liner of the tire was knocked off when Truex pitted, which caused the tire to go flat. Truex continued to have tire failures throughout the race, ultimately finishing 38th.
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