Salon.com > Dan Gelston

Officials: NASCAR fans warned of lightning, rain

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 06:33:07 +0000

LONG POND, Pa. (AP) — NASCAR fans at Pocono Raceway were advised over public address systems and through social media to take cover when lightning and heavy rain hit the track near the end of the race.

But the warnings weren't enough to avoid tragedy on Sunday. Racetrack officials say lightning strikes after a rain-shortened NASCAR race killed one fan and injured nine others, one critically.

Pocono spokesman Bob Pleban says officials are reviewing the logs of when the announcements were made. There was no order to evacuate the track premises.

Monroe County Coroner Bob Allen says the man who died was in or near his car in a parking lot after the race had ended when lightning struck the car. Bystanders performed CPR until paramedics arrived. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Gordon wins rain-shortened race at Pocono

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 21:06:47 +0000

LONG POND, Pa. (AP) — Jeff Gordon took advantage of an accident sparked by teammate Jimmie Johnson and a touch of timely rain at Pocono Raceway to win his first race of the season.

Gordon earned his 86th career victory Sunday and thrust himself into wild-card contention in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

Johnson inadvertently gave his Hendrick Motorsports teammate the help he needed. Johnson got loose off a restart and knocked Matt Kenseth into the wall. Kenseth slid down the track and took out Denny Hamlin. With an unexpected opening, Gordon zoomed to the lead in the No. 24 Chevrolet.

It couldn't have come at a better time. The skies opened and cars were ordered off the track. The race was called moments later with 98 of the 160 scheduled laps completed.