The Cup Series drivers get ready for The Great American Getaway 400 at “The Tricky Triangle” of Pocono Raceway with a practice session and qualifying run before the race on Sunday.

The 2.5 mile three cornered track provides plenty of challenge for the drivers with three completely different corners taken from three distinct tracks.

While weather is blue skies and warm temperatures on Saturday; the weather may be an issue on Sunday.  With that in mind, NASCAR has moved the start time of the race to 1pm from its original 3pm start time.

Thirty-eight teams brought cars to Pocono for 40 starting spots.

After one of the hardest hits in the Next Gen car last week, Christopher Bell suffered a fractured left wrist.  He has since been cleared to race.  The crew has worked all week to make the car interior as comfortable for Bell as possible, moving some switches to the right side or making adjustments to pull tabs so that he can reach them with his right hand if needed.  He will also have a crew member helping getting in and out of the car; as well as, connecting and tightening seat belts and other connections in the car.

Kyle Larson’s number five car and Daniel Dye’s number 78 car have failed the pre-race inspection process twice; as a result both teams have lost a crew member for the remainder of the weekend and will have their pit stall selections assigned to them by NASCAR officials.

The drivers have been divided into two groups for practice with 25 minutes each.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr spun out in practice in a cloud of smoke but kept the car off of the wall.

Points leader Tyler Reddick topped the leaderboard in single laps times at the end of group one practice with a time of 53.302 seconds.  Reddick also topped the list in multiple lap times.

Kyle Larson tops the leaderboard in single lap times from group two with a time of 52.722 seconds.  Larson also tops the leaderboard in multiple lap times.

The first driver on the track to make a qualifying run is Casey Mears who posted a time of 54.212 seconds around the 2.5 mile track

Brad Keselowski reports that he is short on cylinders.  His lap time was over one minute.  He took his car straight to the garage.

Carson Hocevar spins out and gets into the wall.

Bubba Wallace gets into the wall and slides sideways down the track and hits the inside wall.

With a time of 51.948 seconds, Denny Hamlin puts his number eleven car on the pole once again with Kyle Larson alongside on the front row.

The starting lineup for the The Great American Getaway 400:
Denny Hamlin
Kyle Larson
Daniel Suarez
Ty Gibbs
Chase Briscoe
Chris Buescher
Erik Jones
John Hunter Nemechek
William Byron
Ryan Blaney
Joey Logano
Alex Bowman
Michael McDowell
Austin Hill
Cole Custer
Tyler Reddick
Austin Cindric
Zane Smith
AJ Allmendinger
Josh Berry
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Christopher Bell
Chase Elliott
Ross Chastain
Riley Herbst
Carson Hocevar
Ty Dillon
Connor Zilisch
Todd Gilliland
Noah Gragson
Shane van Gisbergen
Austin Dillon
Cody Ware
Daniel Dye
Ryan Preece
Casey Mears
Brad Keselowski
Bubba Wallace

After some issues during qualifying, Brad Keselowski announced that they found some debris in the engine box.

NASCAR revealed that Christopher Bell’s crash last week at Michigan was the hardest hit ever in the Next Gen car.  Bell does not expect to need to exit the car; however, if he does, Brandon Jones is on standby.

Stage one is just 30 laps with stages two and three lasting 65 laps.  The drivers will have to make at least one pit stop during stages two and three.

“Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross” gave the command to start engines.

On Saturday, the O’Reilly Auto Pars Series set a new record for caution flags during their 250 mile race.k

With the Minions riding along, Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag start of the race before a packed house with Kyle Larson alongside.  Drivers are three wide back in the field as Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson battle for the lead.  Kyle Larson takes the lead from the inside lane.

Lap three, the top five are Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Daniel Suarez, Chase Briscoe, and Ty Gibbs.

Tyler Reddick has moved up five spots since the start of the race.

Lap four, Bubba Wallace started the race in last place, he has moved up eight spots to 30th and Brad Keselowski is up to 28th.

Lap five, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a lead of nearly a second and a half on Denny Hamlin; Daniel Suarez, Chase Briscoe, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.

Lap eight, the fingers go in the air in memory of Kyle Busch and the broadcast crew goes silent.

Lap nine, Kyle Larson now has a lead of over a second and a half on Denny Hamlin; Daniel Suarez, Chase Briscoe, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.

Lap eleven, Ty Gibbs and Chase Briscoe battle for fourth.

Lap 12, Kyle Lars is very slowly increasing his lead on Denny Hamlin and is now nearly two seconds out in front; Daniel Suarez, Ty Gibbs, and Chase Briscoe round out the top five.

Lap 14, Kyle Larson is now two seconds out in front of Denny Hamlin.

Lap 16, Denny Hamlin has begun to close the gap on leader Kyle Larson and is now a second and a half back; Daniel Suarez, Ty Gibbs, and Chase Briscoe round out the top five.

Lap 18, Kyle Larson’s lead is down to one second over Denny Hamlin; Ty Gibbs is making a run for Danial Suarez and third place.

Lap 20, Ty Gibbs passes Daniel Suarez for third; Kyle Larson’s lead is now just over half a second on Denny Hamlin.

Lap 23, Denny Hamlin has caught leader Kyle Larson and is just a quarter of a second back.

Lap 25, Kyle Larson encounters slower traffic.

Lap 26, Denny Hamlin passes Kyle Larson for the lead.

Alex Bowman brings his car down pit road for service to short pit the end of the stage.

With four laps remaining in stage one, more drivers come down pit road to short pit the end of the stage.

Three laps to go in stage one, Denny Hamlin has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Kyle Larson.

Denny Hamlin wins stage one.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Denny Hamlin
Kyle Larson
Ty Gibbs
Chase Briscoe
Chris Buesche
Daniel Suarez
William Byron
Erik Jones
Joey Logano
Austin Hill

Casey Mears is the “lucky dog”.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Denny Hamlin coming out first; followed by Kyle Larson.  Ty Gibbs had a slow start after the crew had to jack the car back up to tighten a lug nut. He will restart the race from 38th.

After short pitting the end of stage one, John Hunter Nemechek leads the race with Tyler Reddick in second.  Denny Hamlin will restart the race in seventh place with Kyle Larson in eighth.

John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 37.  Drivers are three wide back in the field.  Tyler Reddick and Nemechek battle for the lead.

Lap 39, the battle for the lead continues with Tyler Reddick and John Hunter Nemeched going side by side.

Tyler Reddick finally gets out in front.

Lap 40, the top five are Tyler Reddick, John Hunter Nemechek, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Zane Smith.

Zane Smith pulls up on the inside for a three way battle for third and brings out the caution flag when he gets loose in a battle with Denny Hamlin.

Tyler Reddick brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 45.  Reddick takes the lead; John Hunter Nemechek, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

Ryan Blaney passes Chase Elliott for fifth.

Josh Berry gets into the wall and causes a pile up on lap 47.  Shane van Gisbergen, Noah Gragson, Brad Keselowski, Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, Bubba Wallace, Austin Hill, and Connor Zilisch were also involved.

Some of the drivers come down pit road for service.

John Hunter Nemechek is the leader with Chase Briscoe in second.

Brad Keselowskiis out of the care center…and out of the race.

John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart with Chase Briscoe alongside on lap 53.  Nemechek takes the lead.  Drivers are three wide.

Lap 54, the top five are John Hunter Nemechek, Chase Briscoe, Erik Jones, Carson Hocevar, and Ross Chastain.  Denny Hamlin is back in 10th place.

Lap 56, John Hunter Nemechek has a one second lead on Chase Briscoe; Erik Jones, Carson Hocevar, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

Marty Snider reports that Christopher Bell has not said a single word on the radio about his fractured wrist.

Lap 63, John Hunter Nemechek has a lead of over a second on Chase Briscoe; Erik Jones, Carson Hocevar, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

Lap 68, John Hunter Nemechek’s lead is now under one second on Chase Briscoe; Erik Jones, Carson Hocevar, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

Daniel Suarez reports that his cool suit is not working.

The temperature has dropped a few degrees, making it a bit cooler at Pocono.

Lap 73, Joh Hunter Nemechek is less than half a second in front of Chase Briscoe; Erik Jones, Chase Elliott, and Carson Hocevar round out the top five.

Denny Hamlin passes Carson Hocevar for fifth.

Denny Hamlin reports “something feels funny”.

Chase Briscoe has reported a “vibration” in his car.

Drivers are reporting that chunks of sealer have come up off of the track.

Lap 76, Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain are the first drivers to stary a cycle of green flag pit stops.

Carson Hocevar is reporting that he is concerned about his right front tire.

Lap 78, more drivers make their green flag pit stops.

Jap 79, leader John Hunter Nemechek comes down pit road; teammate Erik Jones is the new leader.

Crews are waiting on the gas man with packing the fuel cell the biggest concern.

Lap 80, Erik Jones makes his pit stop and gives the lead over to Chase Elliott.

AJ Allmendinger reports that he is “bad in traffic”.

Lap 85, Denny Hamlin has caught leader Chase Elliott and is now just a quarter of a second back; third place driver William Byron is over four seconds back with Tyler Reddick, and Ryan Preece rounding out the top five.

Lap 88, Denny Hamlin passes Chase Elliott for the lead.

Lap 90, Denny Hamlin has pulled out to a half second lead on Chase Elliott.

Leaders come down pit road for service; Ryan Blaney is the new leader.

Five laps remain in stage two with Austin Cindric leading the race; Christopher Bell, Todd Gilliland, Bubba Wallace, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr round out the top five.

Austin Cindric and Chrisotpher Bell come down pit road.  Todd Gilliland is the new leader.

Todd Gilliland wins stage two for his first ever stage win.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Todd Gilliland
Chase Briscoe
John Hunter Nemechek
Erik Jones
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Ross Chastain
Carson Hocevar
Daniel Suarez
Denny Hamlin
Chase Elliott

Some of the drivers come down pit road for service with Carson Hocevar winning the race off of pit road.

Chase Briscoe leads the race.

Chase Briscoe brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 102.  Getting a push from behind, Briscoe take the lead but drivers spread out and John Hunter Nemechek takes the lead with Denny Hamlin in second; Erik Jones, Chase Brisoce, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

Noah Gragson has returned to the race 49 laps down.

Lap 104, Kyle Larson enters the top 10.

Tyler Reddick reports he may have a possible tire issue.

Lap 105, John Hunter Nemechek has a third of a second lead on Denny Hamlin.

The caution flag comes out on lap 106 when the wheel and rotor comes off of Casey Mears car after getting into the wall.

A few drivers come down pit road for service.

There are 30 cars on the lead lap.

Joey Logano returns to the track three laps down.

John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart on alp 111 with Denny Hamlin alongside.  Hamlin edges out for the lead from the inside lane.

With 50 laps remaining in the race Denny Hamlin leads with John Hunter Nemechek in second; Chase  Briscoe, Erik Jones, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

Ryan Blaney gets into the wall but the track stays green.

Lap 114, Denny Hamlin has pulled out to a lead of over a second on John Hunter Nemechek; Chase Briscoe, Erik Jones, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

Lap 116, Denny Hamlin continues to increase his lead and is now nearly two seconds out in front of John Hunter Nemechek; Chase Briscoe, Erik Jones, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

With 42 laps to go, a few drivers are on pit road for service.

Denny Hamlin has increased his lead to over two seconds.

Lap 120, more drivers come down pit road for green flag pit stops.

Lap 121, the top five are Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, Ross Chastain, Ryan Blaney, and Ty Gibbs.

With 39 laps to go, Denny Hamlin makes his green flag pit stop.  Tyler Reddick is the new leader.

With 35 laps remaining in the race, Tyler Reddick has a lead of nearly three and a half seconds on Ross Chastain; Ryan Blaney, Ty Gibbs, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.

Just 30 laps to go, Tyler Reddick continues to lead the race with Ross Chastain in second; Ryan Blaney, Ty Gibbs, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.

Zane Smith is back on the track 72 laps down and Noah Gragson is 49 laps down.

With 25 laps to go, Tyler Reddick and Ross Chastain make their green flag pit stops.  Ryan Blaney is the new leader.

Tyler Reddick returns to the track in 14th place.

With 24 to go, the top five are Ryan Blaney, Ty Gibbs, Daniel Suarez, Christopher Bell, and Denny Hamlin.

Ty Gibbs makes his pit stop.  He overshot his pit stall and had to back up before service could take place.

With 23 to go Ryan Blaney makes his pit stop  Christopher Bell is the new leader.

Zane Smith takes his car to the garage.

Just 21 laps remain in the race with Christopher Bell leading the race with Denny Hamlin, William Byron, John Hunter Nemechek, and Kyle Larson rounding out the top five.

Nineteen to go, Christoopher Bell has an eight and a half second lead on Denny Hamlin and is trying to stretch it to the end of the race.  William Byron is slowly closing the gap on Denny Hamlin and has closed the gap to under a second.  John Hunter Nemechek and Kyle Larson round out the top five.  Tyler Reddick is just outside the top five in sixth.

Fifteen to go, Charistopher Bell has an eight second lead on Denny Hamlin; William Byron, John Hunter Nemechek, and Kyle Larson round out the top five. 

Fourteen to go, Tyler Reddick passes Kyle Larson for fifth.

Thirteen to go, Christopher Bell’s lead is down to seven seconds on Denny Hamlin; William Byron, John Hunter Nemechek, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.

Denny Hamlin is negotiating slower traffic.

Eleven to go, Christopher Bell’s lead is now under six seconds on Denny Hamlin.

Ten to go, Christopher Bell’s lead is down to under five seconds on Denny Hamlin.

Nine to go, Christopher Bell’s lead is now under four seconds on Denny Hamlin.

Eight to go, Christopher Bell’s lead is now under three seconds.

Six to go, Denny Hamlin has closed the lead on Christopher Bell to under two seconds.

Five to go, Christopher Bell has just a one second lead on Denny Hamlin.

Denny Hamlin passes Christopher Bell for the lead.

Four to go, Denny Hamlin has a two second lead on Christopher Bell. 

Three to go, William Byron passes Christopher Bell for second.

Tyler Reddick passes Christopher Bell for third.

Denny Hamlin takes the white flag with a two second lead over William Byron.

Christopher Bell reports that he is out of fuel and heads for pit road.

Denny Hamlin wins his third race in a row for the three-peat – his first in his career.  This is his eighth Pocono win.

The unofficial results of The Great American Getaway 400:
Denny Hamlin
Tyler Reddick
William Byron
John Hunter Nemechek
Kyle Larson
Erik Jones
Chris Buescher
Ross Chastain
Ty Gibbs
Ryan Blaney
Chase Elliott
Chase Briscoe
Daniel Suarez
Austin Cindric
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Riley Herbst
Michael McDowell
Austin Hill
Todd Gilliland
Carson Hocevar
Bubba Wallace
AJ Allmendinger
Connor Zilisch
Cole Custer
Austin Dillon
Christopher Bell
Alex Bowman
Ryan Preece
Daniel Dye
Cody Ware
Shane van Gisbergen
Ty Dillon
Josh Berry
Joey Logano
Noah Gragson
Casey Mears
Zane Smith
Brad Keselowski