Arca race a prelude for the cup race

Since the Arca race run today is the first racing on the newly paved 2.5 mile triple turn track the question in the media center is will it be a prelude for tomorrow's race?

This race was unique to say the least. A hard hit with the 32 car on the pace lap even before the pace car lights had gone off. Then the first actual caution came about at lap 16 and a few other cautions throughout the race. With 25 laps to go Keven Swindell had his 3rd tire go down an bring out another caution and worrying Brenden Poole who also races for the Venturini team.

There was not a second grove, or at least not one that worked well, for this race, which begs the question if a second grove can come in tomorrow? The most that Arca was able to achieve was putting two cars into a turn. We saw 4 wide on the straight stretch, but no one was successful with doing more than two wide on the turns. The track was slick, mostly from the desert of speedy dry applied to the track from all the wrecks and blown engines during cup qualifying. Most of the time, it looked like there was a dust storm on the back stretch.

In the end, Pole Sitter, Brennan Poole, beat out Chad Hackenbracht for the win. The first win on the newly paved track.

Arca race a prelude for the cup race

Arca race

The Arca race green flag is about to drop and we have already had a wreck on the back stretch. The 32 car Aleks Gregory in The Mosquito Patch Toyota was scrubbing his tires when he shot clear across the track and impacted the outside wall hard ending his day before it even started. We are not sure why he wrecked but the new pavement can not be blamed on this one. Though the new pavement is fast becoming covered all 2.5 miles by speedy dry looking like a bathroom oasis for cats everywhere.

We will see if the new pavement allows for more racing or less passing, but we hope we get past the green flag before we see another caution.

Qualifying day in Pocono

It is qualifying day again in Pocono and it is a typical summer day here in the Ski areas of Pennsylvania.

Qualifying was a bit slow getting started due the third car out blowing up an dumping oil on the newly paved track requiring the Safety Kleen crew to dispense the oil dry and then the jet dryers got to blow it all away before we could get going again.

With the new paved surface, it seemed like every other driver was getting a "New Track Record"

After qualifying finally got going, it took just over 1 hour to complete at about 1:15 with Joey Logano in the 20 car taking the poll with a time of 50.112 seconds, 179.598 mph (a new track record). Carl Edwards was second to Joey and will start on the outside pole on Sunday.

The weather at Pocono was typical Long Pond summer weather. Humid with smattering of clouds. one minute it is bright blue sky and the next it is looking like the wrath of god is coming. Sunday looks to be a fast race (shortened by 100 miles) and fast speeds. Should be a better Pocono this year. Doc would have been proud.