Kyle Busch won the 48th Annual Explore the Pocono Mountains 350

Starting from 19th place Car 18 Kyle Busch M&M’s Mini’s Toyota won the 48th Annual Explore the Pocono Mountains 350, his 59th win in 589 NASCAR Cup Series races. This is his 2nd win & 11th Top 10 finish in 2021. This is his 4th win & 17th Top 10 finish in 34 races at Pocono Raceway. This win was down to fuel strategy as he had to be pushed to victory lane after the race & came through adversity to keep going. The win today was Joe Gibbs Racing’s 16th NASCAR Cup Series victory at Pocono Raceway – Denny Hamlin (six wins), Kyle Busch (four), Bobby Labonte (three), Joey Logano (one), Tony Stewart (one) and Matt Kenseth (one). 2nd Place Car 5 Kyle Larson HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, started from 12th place posted his 7th Top 10 finish in 14 races at Pocono Raceway. It is his 13th Top 10 finish in 2021. 3rd Place Car 2 Brad Keselowski Detroit Engines Ford, started from 11th place posted his 14th Top 10 finish in 24 races at Pocono Raceway.

LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 27: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Mini’s Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pocono Green 225 Recycled by J.P. Mascaro & Sons at Pocono Raceway on June 27, 2021 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

4th Place Car 4 Kevin Harvick Busch Light Ford, started from 13th place followed by 5th place Car 23 Bubba Wallace DraftKings Toyota, started from 7th place. 6th Place Car 12 Ryan Blaney Menards/Duracell Ford, started from 16th place followed by 7th place Car 48 Alex Bowman Ally Chevrolet, started from 20th place. 8th Place Car 37 * Ryan Preece Thomas’/Kroger Chevrolet, started from 23rd place followed by 9th place Car 8 Tyler Reddick Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Chevrolet, started from 10th place. Lastly in the Top 10 Car 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford, in 10th place, started from 14th place. Chase Briscoe (21st) was the highest finishing rookie. 23XI Racing and Bubba Wallace scored their first top-five finish of the 2021 season and first for the organization in the series.

LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 27: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Mini’s Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 at Pocono Raceway on June 27, 2021 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

The race had 4 Cautions for 15 Laps: 1st Caution on lap 3 for #38 Crash in Turn 2. 2nd Caution on lap 32 for Stage 1 Conclusion. 3rd Caution on lap 87 for Stage 2 Conclusion. 4th Caution on lap 94 for Debris.

LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 27: Chris Buescher, driver of the #17 Acronis Ford, and Michael McDowell, driver of the #34 ARRMA Ford, lead the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 at Pocono Raceway on June 27, 2021 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

The race had 12 Lead Changes among 10 drivers; C. Buescher 1-6; M. McDowell 7-13; M. Truex Jr. 14-32; B. Keselowski 33-45; K. Busch 46-73; B. Wallace 74-76; W. Byron 77-93; C. Bell 94-96; A. Bowman 97-114; B. Keselowski 115-132; W. Byron 133-137; D. Hamlin 138; K. Busch 139-140.

LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 27: Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 at Pocono Raceway on June 27, 2021 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Stages:
Stage 1 Top 10: 19, 10, 2, 12, 23, 34, 47, 8, 99, 22
Stage 2 Top 10: 24, 11, 2, 20, 9, 19, 18, 5, 10, 42

LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 27: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Mini’s Toyota, takes a bow after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 at Pocono Raceway on June 27, 2021 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 27: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, and son Owen wait on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 at Pocono Raceway on June 27, 2021 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

NASCAR Cup Series Race Number 19
Race Results for the 48th Annual Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 – Sunday, June 27, 2021. Pocono Raceway – Long Pond, PA – 2.5 – Mile Paved
Total Race Length – 140 Laps – 350. Miles

Finish Start Car Team Laps Status

1. 19. Car 18 Kyle Busch M&M’s Mini’s Toyota 140 Running
2. 12. Car 5 Kyle Larson HendrickCars.com Chevrolet 140 Running
3. 11. Car 2 Brad Keselowski Detroit Engines Ford 140 Running
4. 13. Car 4 Kevin Harvick Busch Light Ford 140 Running
5. 7. Car 23 Bubba Wallace DraftKings Toyota 140 Running
6. 16. Car 12 Ryan Blaney Menards/Duracell Ford 140 Running
7. 20. Car 48 Alex Bowman Ally Chevrolet 140 Running
8. 23. Car 37 * Ryan Preece Thomas’/Kroger Chevrolet 140 Running
9. 10. Car 8 Tyler Reddick Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Chevrolet 140 Running
10. 14. Car 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford 140 Running
11. 3. Car 19 Martin Truex Jr. Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota 140 Running
12. 18. Car 24 William Byron Axalta Color of the Year Chevrolet 140 Running
13. 21. Car 3 Austin Dillon Workrise Chevrolet 140 Running
14. 17. Car 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Ground Toyota 140 Running
15. 8. Car 99 Daniel Suarez CommScope Chevrolet 140 Running
16. 5. Car 10 Aric Almirola Smithfield Ford 140 Running
17. 2. Car 34 Michael McDowell ARRMA Ford 140 Running
18. 32. Car 21 Matt DiBenedetto Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford 140 Running
19. 1. Car 17 Chris Buescher Acronis Ford 140 Running
20. 15. Car 1 Kurt Busch Monster Energy Chevrolet 140 Running
21. 24. Car 14 Chase Briscoe # HighPoint.com/Webex by Cisco Ford 140 Running
22. 37. Car 6 Ryan Newman Guaranteed Rate Ford 140 Running
23. 36. Car 7 Corey LaJoie Nations Guard Chevrolet 139 Running
24. 38. Car 41 Cole Custer HaasTooling.com Ford 139 Running
25. 27. Car 77 Justin Allgaier(i) Diamond Creek Water Chevrolet 139 Running
26. 33. Car 42 Ross Chastain McDonald’s Chevrolet 139 Running
27. 9. Car 9 Chase Elliott NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet 139 Running
28. 25. Car 51 Cody Ware(i) Nurtec ODT Chevrolet 139 Running
29. 30. Car 78 BJ McLeod(i) American Brain Tumor Association Ford 138 Running
30. 28. Car 15 James Davison Go FMX Chevrolet 137 Running
31. 22. Car 43 Erik Jones Medallion Bank Chevrolet 136 Running
32. 4. Car 20 Christopher Bell Rheem Toyota 135 Running
33. 31. Car 00 Quin Houff Mane ‘n Tail/Spirit Unlimited Chevrolet 135 Running
34. 26. Car 38 Anthony Alfredo # Death Wish Coffee Ford 134 Running
35. 34. Car 52 Josh Bilicki Jacob Companies Ford 132 Running
36. 29. Car 53 Garrett Smithley(i) RichMar Florists Chevrolet 122 Engine
37. 35. Car 66 * Timmy Hill(i) M&M Mechanical Toyota 113 Handling
38. 6. Car 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Scott Brand Chevrolet 111 Engine

Race Comments: Prior to the start of the race, the following vehicle(s) dropped to the rear of the field under penalty: No. 77 (driver change) and Nos. 41, 6, 5, 37, 42, 7, 38 (backup cars). Failed to Qualify: None. Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 26 Mins, 49 Secs. Average Speed: 143.036 MPH. Margin of Victory: 8.654 Seconds. Caution Flags: 4 for 15 laps. Lead Changes: 12 among 10 drivers. Sunoco Rookie of the Race: Chase Briscoe, #14.

(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series

Next Race: July 4, 2021 – Road America

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Graphics & Photos Courtesy of NASCAR

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