RYAN NEWMAN
PERSEVERES AT POCONO
Long Pond, PA: Ryan started on the pole for the 5th time this year. He led the first 54 laps by a large margin. Then, he lost the lead when he chose to take 4 tires and teammate Rusty Wallace, along with several others, took only 2. It wasn't until lap 159 that he was able to lead again. Even with Kurt Busch threatening to snatch the victory, Ryan was able to maintain the lead. This time he kept that position to the checkered flag.
After scraping the wall early in the race, no one would have guessed that Kurt Busch would pose a threat to leader Ryan Newman. But pitting out of sequence allowed him to have enough fuel to make a serious challenge in the final laps. The #97 Rubbermaid Ford made a valiant effort, but could not pass the #12 Alltel Dodge. Kurt finished 2nd.
The DEI Duo of Dale Earnhardt Jr and Michael Waltrip had also used pit strategy to gain position.
The Duo had unintentionally tag teamed Mark Martin on lap 74. The #8 Budweiser Chevrolet and #15 NAPA
Chevrolet suffered little damage, but the #6 Viagra Ford struck the wall and was forced out of the race.
Jr finished the race 3rd and Michael 4th.
Mark Martin finished 41st.
Following the caution, Casey Mears became the race leader. He had just been on pit road and did not pit again at the caution. The #41 Target Dodge could not hold the position as Rusty Wallace passed him within one lap. Casey later whacked the wall and was out of the race.
Rusty Wallace had taken 2 tires on lap 54 and again on lap 88, both times propelling him to the lead. However, late adjustments did not allow the #2 Miller Lite Dodge to maintain the top spot. He barely missed the top 10, finishing 11th.
Tony Stewart suffered another dismal day when the engine of the #20 Home Depot Chevrolet gave out on lap 154. Tony had taken the lead from Jeff Burton on lap 98. He had worked his way to the front from his 33rd starting position. But when the DEI Duo did not pit, Tony found himself having to wind his way through traffic again. He had moved up to 2nd when the engine broke. He finished 37th, dropping 5 places in the points standings.
Teammate, Bobby Labonte, lost the engine in his #18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet as well. He slid into the wall, finishing the race 30th. He was able to retain his 4th place position in Championship points.
Jeff Gordon experienced a dreadful day, too. Although he had qualified poorly (25th), he was moving steadily to the front. Then, on lap 124, he was bumped by Dave Blaney. The #24 DuPont Chevrolet crashed into the wall. Jeff was able to come back onto the track for a few laps. Unfortunately, his 36th place finish knocked him from 2nd to 3rd in points. Jr took over 2nd and Matt Kenseth, who finished 13th in the race, kept the #1 spot.
Our highest praises go out to Terry Labonte. The #5 Kelloggs Chevrolet had another superb day
finishing the race in 5th.. Another Hendrick driver, Joe Nemechek, had an outstanding day. The #25
UAW/Delphi Chevrolet finished the race 7th. Todd Bodine came in 8th with the #54 National Guard Ford.
Dave Blaney had an impressive day bringing the #77 Jasper Engines Ford in 9th. Sterling Marlin rounded
out the top 10 in the #40 Coors Light Dodge.
Article by S. Kipple
7/27/03
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