The NASCAR Cup Series visited Pocono Raceway for a doubleheader, starting with race one Saturday afternoon, the Pocono Organics 325. The race was scheduled to get underway shortly after 4 pm, but Mother Nature had other plans. Earlier in the day, the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Trucks Series was supposed to race but ended up being rained out. That race was moved to Sunday at 9:30 am. A couple of Fords were on the front row as Aric Almirola was the pole sitter and Ryan Blaney next to him. A couple of cars were sent to the rear of the field Josh Bilicki (unapproved adjustment), and Brennan Poole (inspection failure). NASCAR implemented a competition caution for lap 12.
Retweet if you're watching along with us on FOX! We are GREEN at Pocono. pic.twitter.com/duXPyIx4OA — FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 27, 2020
On the third lap, Erik Jones and Michael McDowell made contact fighting for the 23rd position. Kyle Busch got by both Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney for second place. There were no changes after that when the competition caution came out at lap 12. Under the competition caution, some of the leaders stayed out while Jimmie Johnson was the first to pit road from the ninth position. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kevin Harvick, Austin Dillon, and William Byron also pitted. Not long after the restart, the double zero car of Quin Houff got loose and hit the inside wall to bring out the second caution of the race.
Trouble and damage for Quin Houff. pic.twitter.com/9ljVUkwbZ2 — FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 27, 2020
Under caution, Matt Kenseth brought his car to pit road to check the left rear and top it off with fuel. The race resumed at lap 21 with Joey Logano going for the lead right away with five laps to go in stage one. Some of the lead lap cars made green-flag pit stops, including Kevin Harvick for fuel only. There were no changes at the front, and Logano would go on to win stage one.
Fourth stage win of the season for @JoeyLogano and the No. 22 team. pic.twitter.com/6YsnEGzBkp — FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 27, 2020
Some of the lead lap cars pitted for fuel and taking either two-tires or four. Tyler Reddick was caught speeding on pit road and started in the rear of the field. Joey Logano and Aric Almirola stayed out. Ford occupied the first three positions when stage two began on lap 31. Ryan Blaney pitted seven laps into the restart to begin the green flag pit stops. Logano, Bowman, Almirola all pitted within five laps. After green-flag pit stops, Joe Gibbs Racing occupied the top three positions. The Gibbs cars finally make their pit stops giving the lead back to Aric Almirola. J.J Yeley made contact with John Hunter Nemechek and cut down the left front tire to bring out the fourth caution of the race.
Once the race restarted with eight laps to go in stage two, Almirola remained in the lead with Logano inching closer, but a push from Chase Elliott kept Almirola in the lead. With six laps to go in stage two, Tyler Reddick and Erik Jones got together on the front stretch to bring out the fifth caution.
Big trouble for Erik Jones and Tyler Reddick! pic.twitter.com/B1ovFTdQjG — FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 27, 2020
Almirola and Logano remained in front as the race restarted with two laps to go in stage two. Logano was right on his tail as Almirola would take stage two.
Things heat up during the final lap of Stage 2 at Pocono! @Aric_Almirola picks up the stage win. pic.twitter.com/BsEInwijZL — FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 27, 2020
Some of the leaders stayed out under the caution while Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and Daniel Suarez pitted. The final stage was underway at lap 83. Kevin Harvick gained four positions from sixth to second. Cars began to make green-flag pit stops at lap 90 with Ryan Blaney, Austin Dillon, and Christopher Bell, the first ones onto pit road. Truex, Kyle Busch, William Byron, Brad Keselowski, and Jimmie Johnson pitted a lap later. The two Stewart-Haas cars of Almirola and Harvick pitted on lap 94. When all of the green flag pit stops were complete, Kevin Harvick resumed the lead at lap 113. With fifteen laps to go, Alex Bowman cut a right rear tire.
Tough break for Bowman. pic.twitter.com/VtbJpL52V8 — FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 27, 2020
As the laps were winding down, the battle for the lead was between Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin. Hamlin was gaining on Harvick as both drivers were dealing with lapped down cars. Harvick would break the draft from Hamlin with two to go and would go on to win the Pocono Organics 325 by 0.761 seconds over the second-place finisher Denny Hamlin.
Retweet to congratulate @KevinHarvick on his WIN at Pocono! pic.twitter.com/fjCVgnueiS — FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 27, 2020
The rest of the top ten finishers were Aric Almirola third, Christopher Bell fourth, Kyle Busch fifth, Martin Truex Jr. sixth, Clint Bowyer seventh, Michael McDowell eight, Brad Keselowski ninth, and Chris Buescher tenth. There were ten lead changes from eight drivers and six cautions. For Harvick, this was his first win at Pocono in 39 career starts. The NASCAR Cup Series will be back for day two tomorrow for the Pocono 350 at 4 pm on FS1.
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