Then, he hoped that the rain ended the race before Gordon had to pit again. Letarte decided to stay out and pit later, and when the rest of the field had to stop next, Gordon would cycle back to the front. Anyone who stopped couldn’t make it to the halfway point. It’s like the poker player with the most chips at the table: He can dictate the table’s action.Įven so, Letarte acknowledged that he was “shocked” not many people followed his lead. Letarte could make the move because Gordon held such a large points lead he wouldn’t lose it with a bad finish. Kurt Busch called the move “completely against the grain.” Gordon did not pit during a lap 65 caution, moving to the lead as most others pitted. Last week, with weather threatening to end the Pocono 500 shortly after the halfway mark, Letarte made his move. “We learned to start watching the radar,” Letarte said. Gordon led the most laps, but the team’s strategy was for a 200-lap race. Problem was, Letarte’s strategy didn’t factor in the rain. Rain shortened last June’s race by 71 laps.
This event last year helped Letarte and Gordon win last weekend at Pocono. E-Pilot Evening Edition Home Page Close Menu
