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Pennsylvania 500 - Pocono Raceway
Johnson Sweeps Pocono
Mears Scores First Pole Position
Nextel Cup points leader Jimmie Johnson brought out his broom and swept through the Pocono Mountains. Johnson won the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway, giving him a sweep of the Pocono events this season. Johnson’s performance was almost as dominating as it was in the spring event; Johnson led 126 laps in the spring and led six times for a total of 124 laps today. Johnson took the checkered flag 2.138 seconds ahead of Mark Martin to score his fourth victory of the 2004 season and the eighth of his career. Johnson becomes the first driver to win both Pocono races since Bobby Labonte pulled the sweep in 1999. Johnson also was able to pocket a $90,000 bonus by winning the race as the points leader. Martin scored the second-place finish, while rookie Kasey Kahne finished in third. Greg Biffle finished his double-duty weekend with a fourth-place effort, backing up his Busch series win from yesterday. The race featured nine caution flags that lasted 35 laps and Johnson’s winning average speed was 126.271 mph. Johnson’s lead atop the point standings grew to 232 points ahead of his owner/teammate Jeff Gordon, who finished in the fifth position.
Casey Mears will start a Nextel Cup race from the pole position for the first time in his career. Mears won the pole for the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway on Friday afternoon with a lap of 52.411 seconds, at an average speed of 171.720 mph, becomes the fourth first-time Bud Pole winner this season. Mears, who won both ARCA events at Pocono last season, claimed his first top starting spot in his 56th career series start. ‘Front Row’ Joe Nemechek lived up to his nickname, earning a front row start by qualifying on the outside pole position. Kurt Busch, last week’s winner in Loudon, will roll off from the third position, while Sterling Marlin and Elliott Sadler round out the top five on the starting grid.
