ExtenZe Racing Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 Race Recap

Track: Pocono Raceway, 2.5-mile oval, Long Pond, Pennsylvania

 Kevin Conway, No. 34 ExtenZe Ford Fusion

Starting Position: 41

Finishing Position: 31

NASCAR’s leading Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year driver Kevin Conway and the No. 34 ExtenZe Racing team returned to Pocono Raceway for Sunday’s running of the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500. The track in Long Pong, Pa is the first repeat track for the rookie driver this year and the results showed improvement.

Starting from the 41st position, Conway quickly passed the slower cars that fill the field weekly.  He comfortably set his pace with the top-30 cars, but a lack of grip didn’t allow him to advance any further.  A very long stretch of green flag runs eventually put Conway two laps down, but many other competitors also struggled with handling.

Late in the race, after a red flag period for a major accident and rain, the track had cooled and Conway became tight.  For the remainder of the race he competed with his teammate David Gilliland for 30th, but in the end settled for the 31st spot and secured his 20^th straight Raybestos Rookie of the Race award.  

 The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule’s next stop is at Watkins Glen International for the running of the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen on Sunday, August 8^th.   

Comments from ExtenZe Racing Ford Team Driver Kevin Conway after the Pennsylvania 500: 

“We were better this time around, but the competition was pretty tight today too.  We were racing with our teammates and really David the last 100 laps.  We were all right there with Travis a lap ahead of us.

“We just dug ourselves a whole early. We had no grip and I just wanted to tighten the car up.  Peter (crew chief Peter Sospenzo) and the guys did a great job of doing that.  It helped, but the track got cooler.  We were a bit tight at the end, but we were right there with everyone.  It gives us a lot of confidence as we go back to the tracks we’ve raced.”