In all honesty, Pocono provides every NASCAR fan with the most unpredictable happenings around the track, and in the race.
Look at what Sunday's action provided. In the first half, we had domination by one team. Joe Gibbs Racing combined led 114 of the first 124 laps of the event. Joey Logano qualified on the pole, Denny Hamlin drove his way to the front, and Kyle Busch made his presence felt in the wrong way by spinning out off turn 3. However, he recovered nicely to get back into the top-10.
And then came the rain.
It wasn't exactly hard to tell that rain was falling on the track. Once the in-car camera of Jimmie Johnson was put up, it appeared as though a monsoon had come over the track.
Logano found himself in the right spot, as he and crew chief Greg Zipadelli made the call to just get two tires on the previous caution, and it gave him the lead when the red flag came out. The hope was that the race would be called, and it would be another victory in a short race for "Sliced Bread."
Unfortunately, the track dried out and NASCAR got the teams back to their cars and back into the race.
As the race wore on, it was obvious that two of the toughest cars on the track were teammates Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski. Busch was tough from the beginning, but Keselowski was the surprise, having to drive with a broken foot he suffered in a testing crash at Road Atlanta.
But, Keselowski toughed it out and found his way to the lead, and had to hold off the charging Busch. Even the driver known as Rowdy could see that there were certain areas that Keselowski was better, and ultimately that did him in.
In the sweeping turn 3, Keselowski pulled away, and pulled away to his second victory of the season. The win puts him in the top-20 in points, and in prime position for one of the two wild card spots in the Chase.
The win by Keselowski didn't give any writers a victory, but did give us a clear-cut leader. Here's a look at the standings after the Good Sam RV Insurance 500:
Kelly Crandall (732) Kurt Busch finished third (3)
Billy Fellin (721) Denny Hamlin finished 15th (2)
James Broomhead (714) Jeff Gordon finished sixth (1)
Sal Sigala Jr. (708) Kyle Busch finished second (3)
Christopher Leone (679) Denny Hamlin finished 15th (2)
Michael Hirshbein (678) Kyle Busch finished second (3)
Ryan O'Hara (677) Jeff Gordon finished sixth (1)
Kara Martin (671) Denny Hamlin finished 15th (1)
Dustin Parks (664) Carl Edwards finished seventh (0)
Rob Tiongson (645) Jeff Gordon finished sixth (1)
Misan Ayuka (640) Carl Edwards finished seventh (3)
Next Race: Pocono is a place that has once again become a place where shifting has become normal once again. But next Sunday, it will be a requirement.
There is also another requirement...turning right.
It's time for the second road course of the season as NASCAR makes the trip to upstate New York and Watkins Glen International. This track doesn't have as many turns as the Infineon Raceway, but it is faster, and provides some exciting action for everyone. Plus, it means a few familiar road course "ringers" will make their return.
Writers, don't make too many hard corners in deciding your picks. But, your choice of victorious drivers for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen are due by Thursday, August 11, at 10 p.m. ET.
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