Pocono, PA -- The last time a part-time driver came into the SuperCar series and won a race, was, well, last week. New points leader Austin Grams has been on a roll this year, winning 5 races, 4 consecutive and then winning a fuel strategy race in Michigan. He now leads the points by 10 over Pete Engelmanas who has been on a recent bad luck streak having 3 finishes outside the top 10 in the last 6 races. Who would leave Pocono with the points lead?
Tyler Ellery made his presence felt quickly as he nabbed the pole by over a tenth faster than outside pole Pete Engelmanas. Those two led the field for the drop of the green flag and a quick start as drivers realized that the draft was going to play a MAJOR role in the evening's event.
The first caution came quickly on lap 2 as Will Goshen would slide up going into 3 and get into Bertus De Jong, collecting Josh Tew in the wreck as well. The leaders would stop as Pete Engelmanas stayed out to lead a lap and pick up his 5 bonus points, which would come in very handy later on in the evening.
Tyler Ellery would get the race lead on the restart but would quickly be halted as Julian Madore blew an engine coming off of turn 1, collecting Thomas Mohl Jr. in the incident and sending him through a spin in the grass. Mohl would make contact with the inside wall but a repairable amount, Madore however would have to end his night.
Tyler Ellery led the field to the green for what would be the last time as fuel and tires came a major part of the race adding on top of the draft strategy that was already in place. Pete Engelmanas would get by Ellery and would lead all the way to green flag stops. He would get the race lead off pit road and continue his dominance until lap 36 when Tyler Ellery would sneak by and pick up the race lead and eventual race win! Ellery takes the Pennsylvania 100 and becomes the 6th different race winner in 6 races. Pete Engelmanas 2nd, Austin Grams 3rd, Tyler Tucker 4th and Mike Husby (who took 2 tires on the last stop hoping for a better finish) would end up with a disappointing but positive 5th place finish.
Pete Engelmanas now leads the points by 5 over Austin "Auz" Grams and 45 over Mike Husby. Heading into the next race, it looks like Engelmanas has the momentum but it looks as if the title hunt is going to go into the last race and not be decided until the last lap of the year. Who will win the next chapter of what is now the drama story of the 2011 season? Find out next Monday, August 15th!
