NASCAR NATION – 8-4

Greg Biffle snapped a 64 race winless streak last Sunday by winning the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway. But it was two crashes that stole the show during the race weekend.
The first crash happened before the teams even arrived in Long Pond, Pa., when Jack Roush was seriously injured in a plane crash in Oshkosh, Wis. on Monday. Roush crash-landed a plane he was piloting with another passenger on an airport runway, and suffered serious facial lacerations.
Roush is expected to make a full recovery, but his absence was visible at the track, where much of the pre-race questioning of Roush drivers was of Roush’s condition.
The other big story before the race began Sunday was the issue of safety at the track. Many drivers questioned the safety of the track after Kasey Kahne’s rough wreck earlier this season at the track, and many drivers called for vast safety improvements.
But nonetheless, the race went on, with Tony Stewart leading the field to the green flag. The race was delayed over 30 minutes for rain at the start of the event, and that wouldn’t be the last delay.
On lap 165, one of the most frightening wrecks in recent memory occurred when Kurt Busch lost control of his No. 2 Dodge on the backstretch of the triangle-shaped track. The wreck caused a chain reaction, which eventually sent the No. 19 Ford of Elliot Sadler spinning across the infield grass.
Sadler’s Ford abruptly slammed into the inside barrier, then ricocheted back across the raceway. The impact of the car was so great that the vehicle’s engine became completely ejected from the body of the vehicle.
Sadler was in visible pain, climbing slowing from his car with the help of safety officials, and immediately laying on the track after climbing from his battered car. He was taken to the infield care center where he was treated and released with a sore chest and stomach. “Definitely the hardest hit I’ve ever had in a race car,” said Sadler, after leaving the infield care center. “I’m just glad I’m OK.”
The race was delayed for nearly 30 minutes as crews worked to remove plenty of debris left as a result of the scary wreck. The race restarted, but was stopped a short time later for rain. The delay took only 18 minutes, and cars were able to resume racing.
Jeff Gordon, also holding a long winless streak, appeared to be poised to break his drought, but fell victim to a misjudgment on the final pit stop. Biffle went on the win by over three seconds, leaving Gordon with yet another disappointing finish to a promising race.
“I have to tell you that when it got to be five to go, I started thinking about it (Jack Roush). You know, I started thinking, ‘This race is meant to be. It’s for Jack,’” Biffle said
Polesitter Stewart was second, followed by Carl Edwards, Biffle’s Roush Fenway Racing teammate, in third. Kevin Harvick was fourth, and Denny Hamlin was fifth.
Mayetta, New Jersey native Martin Truex Jr. started 28th, but rebounded throughout the race to finish ninth.
Nationwide Series:
Kyle Busch led 209 of 250 to dominate the field once again in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, this time at Iowa Speedway. The victory was Busch’s ninth in 17 Nationwide Series races this season, now giving him more than half of the victory for the year to-date.
Kevin Harvick was second, followed by Jason Leffler in third, with Brad Keselowski in fourth. Trevor Bayne captured his third consecutive Nationwide Series pole and finished fifth.
Camping World Truck Series: Elliot Sadler had a much better day Saturday at Pocono Raceway, leading 31 of 55 laps to win the inaugural Truck Series event at Pocono. The victory was Sadler’s first victory in any NASCAR Series in over six years. Kasey Kahne was second, followed by Matt Crafton in third, Aric Almirola in fourth, and Justin Lofton in fifth.
Coming Up: The Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series heads to Watkins Glen International Raceway for a weekend of left and right hand turns on the historic New York State road course. The Camping World Truck Series returns to Nashville Super Speedway.
Bruce Knoll, 18, of Eldora, can be contacted by email at bknoll jr4cmcherald@yahoo.com