Larson captures inaugural Xfinity race at Pocono Raceway

GREEN GREEN GREEN!!!!!!...Pocono Raceway,Aug.5th,2012,The Pennsylvania 400

LONG POND Things finally fell right for Kyle Larson, with a little help from Mother Nature.

Larson won the inaugural Pocono Green 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway on Saturday when rain halted the race after 53 of 100 laps.

It is Larsons first Xfinity Series win of the season and fourth in 82 career starts. He drives full-time on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in the No. 42 Chevrolet and is still looking for his first career win.

I havent had much luck, so its nice that it finally came together for me. We caught some breaks there and was able to be leading at halfway, Larson said. Now, hopefully, the luck has turned and we can start winning some Cup races as well.

NASCAR threw the red flag at 2:22 p.m. and was drying the 2.5-mile triangular track in hopes of resuming the race. However, another shower hit and, after a delay of 1 hour, 35 minutes, the race was called. In order for a race to be official, at least half of the scheduled laps must be completed.

Pole-sitter Erik Jones wound up second and Ty Dillon finished third. Sprint Cup regulars Kyle Busch and Joey Logano rounded out the top five.

Sixth through 10th were Elliott Sadler, Paul Menard, Brandon Jones, Daniel Suarez and Alex Bowman.

Last week at Charlotte, Larson almost won the Xfinity Series race. He was leading with two laps to go when the caution came out after Erik Jones had a flat tire. The race went into overtime, and Larson was passed by winner Denny Hamlin and eventually finished sixth.

Saturdays race at Pocono was a strategic one.

With practice Friday rained out, NASCAR issued a competition caution on lap 15. That, coupled with the weather radar showing rain approaching the track, caused teams to try different pit sequences.

We knew the race was probably going to be shortened, said Mike Shiplett, Larsons crew chief. So we came in and topped off so we could push past halfway and at least make it to there.

On a lap-35 restart, Larson was fifth. But he wound up passing the four cars ahead of him Almirola, Dillon, Logano and Ryan Reed to take the lead for good.

Elliott Sadler gave me a big push down the frontstretch and pretty much stayed locked on me, said Larson, who started fourth and led 27 laps. I was able to get inside the 22 (Logano) for third into turn 1. The 98 (Almirola) and the 3 (Dillon) were side-drafting each other, slowing each other, and I was able to clear them in the tunnel turn (2).

That was the move of the race. I knew I had to get aggressive on that restart with rain coming, It worked out for us.

Not only was rain coming, but so was Erik Jones.

An accident between Reed and Jeremy Clements on lap 39 brought out the caution. On the lap-44 restart, Larson led and Jones was third. By lap 50, Jones was second and closing fast on Larson.

Fortunately for Larson, the rain came and he was able to hang on for the win.

Just not enough time, Jones said. I felt I had one of the best cars in the field, but just couldnt get back to the lead before it started raining.

I thought we had a good shot at the win, but it didnt work out for us. Its pretty frustrating. But its nice to know Im that fast and I can contend for the win.

Earlier Saturday, Jones captured the pole during qualifying at 175.926 mph.

Suarez continues to lead the series standings with 408 points after 12 of 33 races. Sadler is second with 397 points and Dillon third with 390.

Justin Allgaier fell from third to seventh in the standings after he crashed into the turn-2 wall on lap 20 and finished 39th.

Source: http://standardspeaker.com/sports/larson-captures-inaugural-xfinity-race-at-pocono-raceway-1.2051376