Jeff Gordon Ties For 3rd on All-Time Win List With Pocono Score

Today's 2011 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway didn't provide much drama for fans. Jeff Gordon ran away at the end and claimed the win easily over the Busch brothers Kurt and Kyle. This was Jeff Gordon's 84th career win which ties him for third on the all-time win list with Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison.

Point leader Carl Edwards gave up most of his lead with an engine problem but his Roush-Fenway Racing team got him back on track to salvage a couple extra points. The top four drivers in points are now separated by just eleven points as the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup series points is once again a tight battle.

Qualifying

For the second week in a row Kurt Busch started on the pole in his Penske Dodge. Paul Menard was second quickest in his Chevrolet. The second row was made up of a pair of four-time Pocono winners as Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin started third and fourth. Regan Smith rounded out the top five.

Drop Of The Green

Polesitter Kurt Busch took the early lead before Denny Hamlin slipped past on lap two. Hamlin was strong in the early going and easily lead to the first caution and beyond.

Storylines

Point leader Carl Edwards wsa going in reverse on pit road just 60 laps into the race. Apparently Carl broke a valve. He spent many laps in the garage and ended up 37th back on track after spending some time in the television booth while waiting for his team to fix the engine.

Carl had a 40 point lead coming into Pocono but his engine problem closed the gap dramatically.

Chasing The Checkers

With 41 laps to go Juan Montoya and Jeff Gordon lead the field to the green. Gordon got the jump on the inside lane over Montoya who only had two fresh tires. Gordon never looked back and rolled home for the easy win.

Not much drama with this one as Jeff Gordon was clearly the best car at the end and there were no late cautions to bunch up the field. This was Gordon's 5th Pocono win and the 84th career victory which ties him for third on the all-time win list.

Top Ten

1. Jeff Gordon
2. Kurt Busch
3. Kyle Busch
4. Jimmie Johnson
5. Kevin Harvick
6. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
7. Juan Pablo Montoya
8. Matt Kenseth
9. Ryan Newman
10. Martin Truex Jr.

The Points

Carl Edwards still leads the points but his 40 point lead is now just 6 over Jimmie Johnson. The only change in the top ten was for 8th as Clint Bowyer moved up one spot past Tony Stewart.

No new drivers cracked the top ten.

The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Standings:

1. Carl Edwards
2. Jimmie Johnson -6
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -10
4. Kevin Harvick -11
5. Kyle Busch -25
6. Kurt Busch -35
7. Matt Kenseth -44
8. Clint Bowyer -73
9. Tony Stewart -75
10. Ryan Newman -75