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Elliott Sadler

August 2, 2010 by · Comments Off on Elliott Sadler 

Elliott SadlerElliott Sadler, Long Pond – Sam Hornish Jr. wanted a lot of rain. Greg Biffle wanted only a small chance. Biffle received that opportunity and ran with it. Biffle – probably a driver high-five at best most of Friday – was able to take advantage of a late-race caution and pit strategy to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 the Pocono Raceway.

“Man, the car took off at the end,” said Biffle. “It was very nice.”

The victory was the first for the driver of the No. 16 Ford since September 21, 2008, at Dover International Speedway, breaking a streak of 64 races without a win.

“I forgot to do,” Biffle said when he visited victory lane. “This was great.”

Biffle big break came in circumstances fear. Kurt Busch had a violent accident at the barrier inside the line on lap 165 of the 200-lap race. Just seconds after Elliott Sadler wrecked front against a barrier a short distance first, starting the engine on his No. 19 Ford.

Both drivers were examined and released from the center of attention within the frame.

The clashes resulted in a red flag for more than 28 minutes and caution a few laps when the race resumed.

While most of the leading candidates elected to take four tires under caution, Biffle took two and left in the second, while Hornish Jr. stayed on track to take the lead.

Then came another rain delay and the darkening sky made it appear Hornish Jr. was going to steal his first Cup victory over time.

The strategy in the pits of varying race also hurt the two most dominant drivers at that time – Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. When the race restarted 17 minutes later, Gordon Johnson 12 and 15, both of which changed four tires.

In the third corner of the first lap green flag, Biffle was passed Hornish Jr. and never challenged for the final 21 laps.

“We had a car very well today,” said Hornish Jr., who placed 11 “, but he did have was a good car for about five laps. So I was hoping to run another 10 (laps) was yellow when raining.

“We got the most I could out of it today.”

That was more than enough to hold off Tony Stewart on lap 185. Stewart, however, did not think his battle with Hornish Jr. affected the outcome. Carl Edwards finished second and third.

“I do not think, to be honest,” Stewart said when asked if Hornish Jr. kept him from victory. “Carl and I struggled to get around Sam, and Sam ran a good race. Rushed time spent here. Not only was not a definite place in the track (for him to pass before) … I think Carl was a little better than it in (turn) one and I was a little better in the tunnel turn. “

Edwards finally caught Hornish Jr. with six laps to go.

“We had to force him to only one mistake,” said Stewart. “We finally pushed him enough in (turn) three when he escaped could not recover.”

Meanwhile, Biffle opened a lead of five seconds to cross his 15th career victory.

“Late in the race, I do not know if it was the cold weather or fog or what,” Biffle said, “but it just was.”

Biffle did the same thoughts about the owner Jack Roush, who is recovering from injuries suffered in a plane crash last week.

“When it became five (laps) to go, I have to think about it,” said Biffle. “That the career of this was meant to be.”

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