It looked like Cole Custer was going to give away a win after he dominated more than three quarters of the Pocono 250 at Pocono Raceway.
Then Tyler Reddick got loose and Custer took advantage.
“It was pretty unbelievable,” said Custer in Victory Lane. “Tyler (Reddick) gave me a real run for my money there. I have no idea how he made it stick on that restart on the bottom passing me but he did. He was unbelievable on the brakes at the end. I was just able to kind of force a mistake a little bit trying to pack air on him. It was a fun end of the race. I wish I didn’t have to do it like that, but it probably made it exciting.”
After Justin Allgaier spun his Jr Motorsports Chevrolet in turn 1, NASCAR went to Overtime with Custer and his Stewart-Hass teammate, Chase Briscoe on the front row.
However, Reddick dive bombed it into turn 1 and regained the lead over Custer and led to the white flag. It looked like it was going to be back to back wins for the Corning, California native but he slid up the track and the Ladera Ranch, CA native took advantage to win his third race of the season.
Briscoe finished third with Ryan Preece and Christopher Bell rounding out the top-five.
The final stage went green until eight laps to go when Jeffrey Earnhardt spun in turn 2 to tighten up the field.
Stage 1:
Custer led from green flag to the green and checkered flag after winning his third pole of the season. The stage was delayed three times by cautions as Brandon Jones backed it into the fence on turn 1 and then Joey Gase, Chad Finchum, and Todd Peck all got together exiting one following that yellow from Jones.
ALLAWAY: BRANDON JONES SUFFERS EARLY POCONO EXIT
The fun didn’t stop there as Bell got loose and turned his Joe Gibbs Racing car around after exiting turn 1. He did not have any damage on his car and the Championship contender was able to contend for a solid finish at the tricky triangle.
Allgaier, Reddick, Austin Dillon, Austin Cindric, and Justin Haley rounded out the Top 5 in this stage.
Stage 2:
While the leaders pit after that stage break, John Hunter Nemechek and Earnhardt took advantage and stayed out to lead the field for stage two. Custer started eighth but was quickly able to get back to the front with his dominant car. While Custer was trying to navigate his way up to the lead, Bell took advantage and went three wide to gain the top spot. However, Allgaier and Reddick were able to overpower Bell to take the top spots in stage two. Bell settled for third, with Custer fourth and Michael Annett rounding out top five.
The Xfinity Series is back in action next week as it tackles the two-mile Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan.
About the author
Bryan Nolen currently goes to the Dan Patrick School of Sportscasting at Full Sail. He would like to be involved in some aspect of Motor Sports after he completes school. He hosts a podcast that is on Apple Podcasts and Google Play called Sports Talk with Bryan and TB and lives in Boise, Idaho.
Follow him on Twitter @TheBryanNolen
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It was a good race in spite of Fox using to much in car camera and M. Waltrip rhetoric .
These INFINITY races are better than the Monster Energy Series.