2021 Explore the Pocono Mountains 350
# 2021 Explore the Pocono Mountains 350

The 2021 Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on June 27, 2021, at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Contested over 140 laps on the 2.5-mile (4.0 km) triangular racecourse, it was the 19th race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.

## Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.

| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - |
| 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | James Davison | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 77 | Justin Allgaier (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| Official entry list ||||

## Qualifying

Chris Buescher was awarded the pole for the race as determined by the top 20 from Saturday's finishing order inverted.

### Starting Lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 2 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 3 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 4 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 5 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 6 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 7 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 8 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 12 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 13 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 14 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 15 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 16 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 17 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 18 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 21 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 23 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 24 | 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 25 | 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 26 | 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 27 | 77 | Justin Allgaier (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 28 | 15 | James Davison | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 29 | 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 30 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 31 | 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 32 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 33 | 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 35 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 36 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 37 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 38 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race

### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 30

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||

Stage Two Laps: 55

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage Recap And Results

Before the final stage break at lap 74's pit stop it was discovered that Kyle Busch got stuck in 4th gear. During the stage break pit stop his team discovered he had lost his clutch so he was forced to leave it in 4th gear for the remainder of the race. With one lap before the restart he topped off on fuel, gambling that there would be no further caution flags to the end, however there was one final caution on lap 94 for debris with the final restart on lap 96. This led to a 44 lap green flag run. Kyle Busch was able to get enough good fuel milage to win the race, passing the leader, teammate Denny Hamlin who was coming to pit lane for fuel as they were about to take the white flag.

Stage Three Laps: 55

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 19 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 140 | 44 |
| 2 | 12 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 140 | 38 |
| 3 | 11 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 140 | 50 |
| 4 | 13 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 140 | 33 |
| 5 | 7 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 140 | 38 |
| 6 | 16 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 140 | 38 |
| 7 | 20 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 140 | 30 |
| 8 | 23 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 140 | 29 |
| 9 | 10 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 140 | 31 |
| 10 | 14 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 140 | 28 |
| 11 | 3 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 140 | 41 |
| 12 | 18 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 140 | 35 |
| 13 | 21 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 140 | 24 |
| 14 | 17 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 140 | 32 |
| 15 | 8 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 140 | 24 |
| 16 | 5 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 140 | 32 |
| 17 | 2 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 140 | 25 |
| 18 | 32 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 140 | 19 |
| 19 | 1 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 140 | 18 |
| 20 | 15 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 140 | 17 |
| 21 | 24 | 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 140 | 16 |
| 22 | 37 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 140 | 15 |
| 23 | 36 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 139 | 14 |
| 24 | 38 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 139 | 13 |
| 25 | 27 | 77 | Justin Allgaier (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 139 | 0 |
| 26 | 33 | 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 139 | 12 |
| 27 | 9 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 139 | 16 |
| 28 | 25 | 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 139 | 0 |
| 29 | 30 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford | 138 | 0 |
| 30 | 28 | 15 | James Davison | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 137 | 7 |
| 31 | 22 | 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 136 | 6 |
| 32 | 4 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 135 | 12 |
| 33 | 31 | 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 135 | 4 |
| 34 | 26 | 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 134 | 3 |
| 35 | 34 | 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 132 | 2 |
| 36 | 29 | 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 122 | 0 |
| 37 | 35 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 113 | 0 |
| 38 | 6 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 111 | 5 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 12 among 10 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 4 for 15
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 2 hours, 26 minutes and 49 seconds
* Average speed: 143.036 miles per hour (230.194 km/h)

## Media

### Television

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast handled the pit road duties from pit lane. Jac Collinsworth handled the features from the track.

NBCSN :

| Booth announcers | Pit reporters | Features reporter |
| - | - | - |
| Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen Color-commentator: Jeff Burton Color-commentator: Steve Letarte Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dave Burns Marty Snider Kelli Stavast | Jac Collinsworth |

### Radio

MRN had the radio call for the race which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle called the race in the booth when the field raced through the tri-oval. Dave Moody called the race from the Sunoco spotters stand outside turn 2 when the field raced through turns 1 and 2. Mike Bagley called the race from a platform inside the backstretch when the field raced down the backstretch. Kyle Rickey called the race from the Sunoco spotters stand outside turn 4 when the field raced through turns 3 and 4. Steve Post and Kim Coon worked pit road for the radio side.

MRN Radio :

| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| - | - | - |
| Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Jeff Striegle | Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody Backstretch: Mike Bagley Turns 3 & 4: Kyle Rickey | Steve Post Kim Coon |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Denny Hamlin | 761 |
| | 2 | Kyle Larson | 759 (–2) |
| | 3 | William Byron | 690 (–71) |
| | 4 | Joey Logano | 651 (–111) |
| 1 | 5 | Kyle Busch | 650 (–112) |
| 1 | 6 | Chase Elliott | 633 (–128) |
| | 7 | Martin Truex Jr. | 606 (–155) |
| 1 | 8 | Ryan Blaney | 586 (–175) |
| 1 | 9 | Kevin Harvick | 585 (–176) |
| | 10 | Brad Keselowski | 569 (–192) |
| | 11 | Alex Bowman | 543 (–218) |
| | 12 | Austin Dillon | 518 (–243) |
| | 13 | Tyler Reddick | 470 (–291) |
| | 14 | Kurt Busch | 430 (–331) |
| 1 | 15 | Chris Buescher | 427 (–334) |
| 1 | 16 | Christopher Bell | 424 (–337) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Chevrolet | 702 |
| 2 | Ford | 655 (–47) |
| 3 | Toyota | 650 (–52) |
