Ratings down for Pocono Cup race
Last weekend's Nextel Cup race at Pocono, broadcast on ESPN, received a 4.5 national rating, down 12 percent from last season's event, according to Nielsen Media Research. Last year's race received a 5.1 on TNT.

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Last weekend's Nextel Cup race at Pocono, broadcast on ESPN, received a 4.5 national rating, down 12 percent from last season's event, according to Nielsen Media Research. Last year's race received a 5.1 on TNT.
That's Racin's David Poole ranks the top 40 teams in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series following the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa.
Unoffical NASCAR Nextel Cup driver standings after the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway:
LONG POND, Pa. - Mark Martin may be out of the Chase for the Nextel Cup in driver’s points, but his continued strong finishes in the No. 01 Chevrolet keep him locked in the top 12 in owner points.
LONG POND, Pa. - Jimmie Johnson finished Sunday’s Pennsylvania 500 slightly better than where he started and that’s just fine by him.
LONG POND, Pa. - Count Jeff Gordon among those impressed with Kurt Busch’s dominating win.
LONG POND, Pa. - After sweeping both Pocono races in 2006, Denny Hamlin could not replicate a win at the 2.5-mile track this season.
Running to catch the racing elevator, arms outstretched for the buttons:
Some observations on Sunday's race from The Charlotte Observer's Jim Utter:
Five key moments in Sunday's race:
LONG POND, Pa. – Kurt Busch called it a “Rusty Wallace kind of day.” Coming from the driver who replaced the former champion driver-turned-commentator in the No. 2 Dodge at Penske Racing, that is probably fitting.
Updated points | Unofficial driver standings after Pocono Slideshow | Sunday's action at Pocono Race results | Unofficial scoring from PoconoKurt Busch and Jimmie Johnson appear best prepared for Sunday's race based on Saturday's two Nextel Cup practice sessions
Race updates | How they're running at Pocono Slideshow | Saturday's images from Pocono Raceway Sunday's lineup | Unofficial qualifying results from Pocono RacewayLOND POND, Pa. -- Robby Gordon may have sparked NASCAR's first international incident. NASCAR on Sunday parked Gordon and denied his participation in Sunday's Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway as a result of his actions in Saturday's Busch Series race in Montreal.
Slideshow | More from Montreal Harvick wins in Montreal, but why not me? Robby Gordon wants to know Busch Series results | Unofficial scoring from Montreal
| TRACK FACTS Date Opened: October 20, 1968 First NWCS Race: Purolator 500, August 5, 1974 Qualifying Record: Kasey Kahne, 172.533 mph (52.164 sec.), 7/11/04 Race Record: Rusty Wallace, 144.892 mph, 7/21/96 Owner: N/A CEO: Dr. Joseph Mattioli Phone: (570) 646-2300 Tickets: (800) RACEWAY Shipping Address: Long Pond Road Long Pond, PA 18334 Mailing Address: PO Box 500 Long Pond, PA 18334 |
TRACK CONFIGURATION Distance: 2.5 Mile Oval Banking in Turn 1: 14° Banking in Turn 2: 8° Banking in Turn 3: 6° Length of Frontstretch: 3,740 ft. Length of Shortstretch: 1,780 ft. Length of Backstretch: 3,055 ft. Grandstand Seating: N/A Miles/Laps: 500 mi. = 200 laps |