NASCAR at Pocono live updates: Kevin Harvick wins Saturday race
NASCAR went through the wringer this week after the FBI determined a noose found in driver Bubba Wallace’s garage stall at Talladega last Sunday was not a hate crime. The sport is scheduled for a weekend full of racing at Pocono, including back-to-back Cup Series races on Saturday and Sunday, as chatter about Wallace continues on the national stage.
“Excited to get back in the race car come tomorrow but still got media between then and now,” Wallace said on Friday, noting the high demand for his time.
NASCAR fans continue to voice various opinions on the noose incident on social media, but Mother Nature, at least, isn’t cutting NASCAR a break. The
Truck Series race scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Saturday was already moved to Sunday morning at 9:30 on FS1 due to rain.
More delays or postponements for weather could come throughout the weekend.
Follow along below for live updates from the Pocono Organics 325.
NASCAR Organics 325 at Pocono results
| Pos. | Driver | Car No. |
| 1 | Kevin Harvick | 4 |
| 2 | Denny Hamlin | 11 |
| 3 | Aric Almirola | 10 |
| 4 | Christopher Bell | 95 |
| 5 | Kyle Busch | 18 |
| 6 | Martin Truex Jr | 19 |
| 7 | Clint Bowyer | 14 |
| 8 | Michael McDowell | 34 |
| 9 | Brad Keslowski | 2 |
| 10 | Chris Buescher | 17 |
| 11 | Matt Kenseth | 42 |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | 12 |
| 13 | Matt DiBenedetto | 21 |
| 14 | William Byron | 24 |
| 15 | Ryan Newman | 6 |
| 16 | Cole Custer | 41 |
| 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 47 |
| 18 | Kurt Busch | 1 |
| 19 | Austin Dillon | 3 |
| 20 | Ryan Preece | 37 |
| 21 | Jimmie Johnson | 48 |
| 22 | Bubba Wallace | 43 |
| 23 | Corey Lajoie | 32 |
| 24 | John Hunter Nemecheck | 38 |
| 25 | Chase Elliott | 9 |
| 26 | Ty Dillon | 13 |
| 27 | Alex Bowman | 88 |
| 28 | Daniel Suarez | 96 |
| 29 | Brennan Poole | 15 |
| 30 | Tyler Reddick | 8 |
| 31 | JJ Yeley | 27 |
| 32 | Josh Bilicki | 7 |
| 33 | Garrett Smithley | 53 |
| 34 | James Davison | 77 |
| 35 | Timmy Hill | 66 |
| 36 | Joey Logan | 22 |
| 37 | Joey Gase | 51 |
| 38 | Erik Jones | 20 |
| 39 | BJ Jones | 78 |
| 40 | Quin Houff | 0 |
Stage 3
FINAL: HARVICK WINS AT POCONO FOR FIRST TIME
Kevin Harvick takes the checkered flag at NASCAR’s Saturday race at Pocono, followed by Denny Hamlin and Aric Almirola.
7:01 p.m., LAP 113: THE FINAL PUSH
It’s Harvick, Hamlin, Almirola and Truex Jr. up front as the race winds down. There are 29 cars on the lead lap with 16 to go at Pocono.
6:44 p.m., LAP 95: A NEW LEADER
Almirola is out of the lead as the race’s final pit stops are being made. Harvick is expected to be the new leader when all the pit stops are made. There are 32 laps left and the skies are threatening again.
Stage 2
6:23 p.m., LAP 77: ARIC ALMIROLA WINS STAGE 2
The race goes green with just two laps left in the stage and Almirola leading the field. Logano, Blaney, Truex and Elliott also run in the top-five at the green flag and the field runs three- and four-wide on the restart. JGR drivers Hamlin and Ky. Busch move up positions in the final lap and the top-10 order finishes Almirola, Logano, Truex Jr., Blaney, DiBenedetto, Harvick, Ky. Busch, Hamlin and Elliott. Almirola gets his first stage win of the season and the fourth in his career.
6:14 p.m., LAP 71: CAUTION FOR CRASH!
Jones and Reddick make contact, and both cars experience heavy damage after spinning to the inside barrier. Jones exits his car and is done for the day after walking to the Emergency Care Center. Reddick heads to pit road after the FOX broadcast camera shows his crush panel caved in. Both will likely need to use backup cars for tomorrow’s race, and will have to start at the rear.
6:03 p.m., LAP 66: CAUTION CAUSES A PROBLEM FOR SOME
A caution is called for Yeley, who blows a tire. Leaders, including the top three, pit, as does most of the field. “Well that killed us,” says Cliff Daniels, the crew chief for Johnson’s No. 48 team.
Buscher gets the free pass and Ty Dillon gets a speeding penalty on pit road. The race is also now official, as it’s passed the halfway point. With eight laps to go after the caution, the restart order is
5:59 p.m., LAP 61: HAMLIN TO THE LEAD
As Truex slows, Hamlin slides by him for the lead. Byron pits, then Truex Jr. follows shortly thereafter. Kenseth also pits with 15 laps left in Stage 2.
5:52 p.m., LAP 55: JGR TO THE FRONT
Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Truex, Hamlin, Ky Busch and running in the top three, in that order. Then it’s Byron, Buescher and Jones. Reddick has moved up the most positions (18) in 12th. Hamlin is close behind teammate Truex and could be looking to make his move to the lead soon. Both Truex and Byron last pitted on Lap 14, so they’ll both need to refuel soon.
5:35 p.m., LAP 45: ALMIROLA LEADS, THEN PITS
The pole-sitter runs in P1 by over a second as Logano, Elliott, DiBenedetto and Truex run in the top-five and teams determine the best pit strategy and timing for tire and fuel adjustments. Blaney, who was in fourth, makes a green-flag pit stop for the first time. Almirola, Logano and Elliott come to pit road on Lap 45 for the first time, so Truex Jr. (pitted on Lap 14) becomes the new leader.
Stage 1
5:22 p.m., LAP 30: LOGANO WINS STAGE 1
Logano takes the first green-and-white checkered flag. He’s followed by Almirola, Blaney, Ky. Busch, Elliott, Ku. Busch, DiBenedetto, Keselowski, Bowman and Jones run in the top-10 in the finish. Logano stays out after the stage, and Ky. Busch pits. Stenhouse Jr. says he’s having a tire issue. Logano says he got a push from Blaney after the restart.
5:17 LAP 23: LOGANO TO THE LEAD/PIT STRATEGY PLAYS OUT
The field goes green with five left laps in the stage and Logano takes the lead, just 0.1 second ahead of Almirola. Then, some drivers in the top 20, including Hamlin, Harvick, Stenhouse Jr. and Bell pit for tires under green.
5:11 p.m., LAP 17: CAUTION
The field runs four-wide off the restart, and then another caution comes out for Houff running in the back. The 00 driver spun to the wall exiting Turn 2. Preece then pits for fuel, and Lajoie takes new tires on pit road. Kenseth in 37th also pits to check on some contact from earlier.
5:02 p.m., Lap 12: COMPETITION CAUTION
Almirola has led all laps at the competition caution to check tire wear and adjustments. Logano is behind him in P2, but Almirola leads by over a second. Then it’s Blaney, Ky. Busch, Hamlin, Keselowski, Bowman, Ku. Busch, Johnson and Stenhouse in the top-10. Some teams, including Johnson (in ninth before), Truex, and Byron, pit. The leaders stay out, so the order P1-P8 does not change.
4:51 p.m., LAP 5: GREEN FLAG!
The field goes green with Aric Almirola leading the field ahead of front-row starter and Talladega race winner Ryan Blaney. Almirola holds the lead for the first laps, but Logano and Busch quickly creep up on Blaney, who holds a small lead over them. Busch reports to his team that he’s “tight” but “loose” in Turn 1.
Pre-race
4:47 p.m.: GREEN FLAG?
NASCAR asks drivers for a thumbs up or thumbs down, with some drivers reporting mist and puddles, but NASCAR tells the field to get ready to race.
4:33 p.m.: NOT GOING GREEN
Sprinkles and “big weepers” are reported in Turns 2 and 3 as the field is making pace laps. The green flag is called off and drivers continue circling the raceway as jet driers are sent to re-start drying efforts. Today’s stages end on laps 25, 77 and 130. The race will be official on Lap 65 and a competition caution will come on Lap 12. Brennan Poole will be sent to the rear at the start for failing inspection twice, and Josh Bilicki for also go to the rear for unapproved adjustments.
4:25 p.m.: ENGINES FIRED
Actors Charlize Theron and KiKi Layne give the command to start engines. Just before, Denny Hamlin is interviewed outside his car on the FOX NASCAR broadcast. Matt Yocum asks Hamlin what the biggest challenge today will be. “Getting all the race in,” Hamlin responds, referring to approaching rain.
4:15 p.m.: NASCAR PREPPING FOR 4:35 START
Pre-race ceremonies are underway as track drying in Turn 2 continues for remaining weepers (wet spots). The invocation is delivered and the national anthem is performed before the race’s updated 4:35 p.m. green flag. However, there are still clouds over the track and the next batch of rain is projected to be about 10 miles away.
3:42 p.m.: JUST KIDDING. THE TRACK IS STILL DRYING.
Weepers in Turns 1 and 2 prevent engines from firing as scheduled and NASCAR’s track-drying teams continues to do work. NASCAR tells drivers to be at their cars at 4:30 p.m.
3:25 p.m.: NASCAR LOOKING ALL-CLEAR
Team and the track reports that cars are being rolled out to the grid. Hopefully, NASCAR can get the race in before more storms hit the area, as meteorologists are monitoring nearby rain cells. Aric Almirola is starting in the pole.
STARTING ORDER FOR NASCAR’S SATURDAY RACE AT POCONO
| Order | Driver | Car No. |
| 1 | Aric Almirola | 10 |
| 2 | Ryan Blaney | 12 |
| 3 | Denny Hamlin | 11 |
| 4 | Kyle Busch | 18 |
| 5 | Chase Elliott | 9 |
| 6 | Joey Logano | 22 |
| 7 | Kurt Busch | 1 |
| 8 | Brad Keselowski | 2 |
| 9 | Kevin Harvick | 4 |
| 10 | Alex Bowman | 88 |
| 11 | Martin Truex Jr. | 19 |
| 12 | Jimmie Johnson | 48 |
| 13 | Ryan Newman | 6 |
| 14 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 47 |
| 15 | Tyler Reddick | 8 |
| 16 | William Byron | 24 |
| 17 | Austin Dillon | 3 |
| 18 | Clint Bowyer | 14 |
| 19 | Erik Jones | 20 |
| 20 | John Hunter Nemechek | 38 |
| 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | 21 |
| 22 | Matt Kenseth | 42 |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace | 43 |
| 24 | Chris Buescher | 17 |
| 25 | Cole Custer | 41 |
| 26 | Michael McDowell | 34 |
| 27 | Brennan Poole | 15 |
| 28 | Joey Gase | 51 |
| 29 | Corey LaJoie | 32 |
| 30 | Ryan Preece | 37 |
| 31 | Garrett Smithley | 53 |
| 32 | Quin Houff | 00 |
| 33 | JJ Yeley | 27 |
| 34 | Ty Dillon | 13 |
| 35 | James Davison | 77 |
| 36 | Christopher Bell | 95 |
| 37 | Daniel Suárez | 96 |
| 38 | Timmy Hill | 66 |
| 39 | BJ McLeod | 78 |
| 40 | Josh Bilicki | 7 |
This story was originally published June 27, 2020 at 3:31 PM.
