Random Recap: The 2013 Party in the Poconos 400
Welcome to Random Recaps, our new weekly feature at From The Marbles. In this space, we’ll recap a race from the past at the track the where Sprint Cup Series is racing next. This week’s race is the 2013 Party in the Poconos 400.
Jimmie Johnson was untouchable at Pocono.
The five-time champion led 128 of the race’s 160 laps and was nearly unpassable during the race. His car was so good that he used the word “long” six times in a post-race quote describing how good his car was.
“That’s the best car I’ve had in a long, long, long, long, long, long time,” Johnson, who started first after qualifying was rained out, said. “Not only a good race car but a good engine. Had fuel mileage and plenty of power. It was awesome on the straightaways today to be able to do what I wanted around other cars.”
If and when Jimmie Johnson exclaims about the strength of a car, you know it’s a damn good car.
Drivers on the same pit cycle had nothing for the No. 48. Johnson took the lead from Carl Edwards on lap nine and this is how the race went from there at the front of the field.
Laps 10-27: Johnson leads
Laps 28-29: Brad Keselowski leads during green flag pit stops
Laps 30-57: Johnson leads
Laps 58-59: Keselowski leads during green flag pit stops
Laps 60-67: Johnson leads
Laps 68-70: Ryan Newman leads after staying out during a caution
Laps 71-100: Johnson leads
Laps 101-113: Newman leads because of pit strategy
Laps 114-126: Johnson leads
Laps 127-129: Newman leads because of pit strategy
Laps 130-160: Johnson leads
Yeah, no one was going to challenge Johnson for the lead straight up. You can’t blame Newman and the No. 39 team for doing what they did. Newman ended up fifth, a spot behind teammate Tony Stewart. Greg Biffle finished second while Dale Earnhardt Jr. was third.
Epilogue: As you likely know, Johnson went on to win his sixth title at the end of 2013, the final season of the 10-race cumulative Chase format. Blame Johnson for the new Chase. And no, this Random Recap was not rigged in any way after Johnson’s fourth win of the year. It has been and always will be random.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
