2008 Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500

The 2008 Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 [ [http://www.jayski.com/pages/tracks/pocono.htm Pocono race renamed Sunoco Presents The American Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 Presented By Cheez-Its] ] , the twenty-first race of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season and was held on August 3 of that year at Pocono Raceway in the village of Long Pond, Pennsylvania. ESPN carried the race beginning at 1 PM US EDT and MRN along with Sirius Satellite Radio had radio coverage of the convert|500|mi|km race starting at 1:15 PM US EDT. The race was sponsored by Sunoco through its' official NASCAR gasoline sponsorship and will benefit the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter (covering Philadelphia and the surrounding five-county region), and marked the frist time since 1996 that a race at the convert|2.5|mi|km track has had a corporate sponsor.

Pre-Race News

* According to ESPN.com, Ryan Newman has reached a verbal agreement with Stewart Haas Racing for the 2009 season, and will more than likely drive the #4 car (either the current #66 or the current #70 car.)
* Terry Labonte will pinch hit this week for Patrick Carpentier in the #10 Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge while Chad McCumbee will drive the #45 Petty Enterprises ride. Carpentier is running in the NAPA Auto Parts 200 on Saturday (8/2) in Montreal, Quebec.

Qualifying

Jimmie Johnson took the pole position with Mark Martin and David Gilliland in the second and third positions, and Jeff Gordon starting fourth.

Race Recap

After "Happy Hour" was washed out on Saturday due to rain, a mandatory caution would be flying at Lap 20, however two accidents predated them. A rain delay held up the race with 69 laps left, and Carl Edwards would win his fourth race of the season.

Failed to Qualify: Chad Chaffin (#34).

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