David Cox
Kyle Busch ended his winless streak in the 2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series with a stunning drive to first place at Pocono. A combination of a pole start and a slightly non-conventional strategy put Busch in the position to capitalize and take the win.
“We didn’t really outsmart anyone today. We just kind of played our race and our own strategy and thought about it a little differently than others, and it worked out for us,” stated Busch. Sure enough after pitting on lap 135, Busch’s fresh tires gave him the grip he needed to work his way back up to the front. His closest rival, Kevin Harvick, showed the potential to take the win, but after a light tap on the rear, Busch found his way through on lap 144.
“I got in there and was loose all the way through the corner on entry and just kept holding the brake down, holding the brake down, holding the brake down and finally, I’m sure he thought I was going to go and I didn’t accelerate.” said the Ford driver Harvick, who finished second. Current championship leader Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the podium falling back one position from where he started.
In addition to Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Clint Bowyer took two top ten spots, fifth and sixth respectively, with Ford power. Bowyer obtained his first stage win of the season and all in all improved by one over his starting position. Keselowski fought his way up from eleventh to take fifth.
