Rain came and went. The sun broke through. Engines fired late at Pocono Raceway, but the action did not disappoint. A key driver led early. Others faced crashes, tire trouble, and heartbreak. Pit strategy flipped the field more than once. One bold move in the final laps changed everything. When the checkered flag waved, a new name stood tall. These moments shaped The Great American Getaway 400, but the full story was far from simple.
Key Highlights
Denny Hamlin opens strong, winning Stage 1 for his fourth stage win of the season.
Right-front tire issues for multiple drivers bring out several early cautions.
Briscoe takes Stage 2, earning his first stage win since 2022.
Brad Keselowski gambles on fuel strategy, briefly leads before yellow alters plans.
Briscoe holds on in fuel-mileage finish, takes checkered flag at Pocono.
Denny Hamlin Controls the Start, Wins Stage 1
Once the skies cleared and the green flag dropped, Denny Hamlin wasted little time asserting control. Despite a two-hour rain delay that tested fans’ patience, the field roared into action with Hamlin leading the opening stint. He eventually secured the Stage 1 victory—his second career stage win at Pocono and fourth of the 2025 season.
Behind him, Chris Buescher, Chase Briscoe, Erik Jones, and William Byron rounded out the top five. Hamlin’s early pace looked promising, especially at a track where he’s historically been strong. Meanwhile, drivers like Brad Keselowski and Byron were already making their way through the field, flashing speed and patience in equal measure.
Cautions and Tire Issues Shake the Field
The rhythm of the race was soon interrupted by a series of dramatic tire failures. Riley Herbst was the first to suffer, blowing a right-front tire and slamming the wall hard in Turn 1. The crash triggered the day’s second caution and raised concerns about tire durability.
Not long after, Brad Keselowski—running strong in the top 10—experienced a similar failure. His right-front tire let go, sending him hard into the outside wall. The disappointment in Keselowski’s voice over the radio was unmistakable. With the playoffs fast approaching and a win his best shot to secure a spot, it was a bitter setback.
In total, the race saw several tire-related incidents, including issues for the No. 71 car (brake failure), and a major crash in Stage 2 involving Christopher Bell, Kyle Busch, Ty Dillon, and Shane van Gisbergen. Busch, who had earlier shown speed, found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time—another tough break in a season filled with them.
Chase Briscoe Wins Stage 2 as Strategy Swirls
As the race reached halfway, strategy became the name of the game. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. briefly led—his first laps out front all year—thanks to a pit call that cycled him forward. But in the end, Chase Briscoe timed his moves perfectly and surged to the Stage 2 win. It was his first stage win since 2022 and a strong sign that the No. 19 team was finally putting all the pieces together.
Josh Berry, Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Chris Buescher followed Briscoe across the line in the top five. With the field reshuffling during pit stops and caution cycles, the final stage promised fireworks—and it delivered.
Brad Keselowski’s Gamble Backfires
As green-flag pit stops began with just over 60 laps to go, teams faced tough calls. Chase Briscoe pitted early, forcing others to react. Brad Keselowski and his No. 6 team chose to stay out, hoping to catch a caution at the right moment and leapfrog the field. For a time, it looked like the gamble might pay off.
But when a caution did come—triggered by Shane van Gisbergen spinning—it was poorly timed for Keselowski. Instead of capitalizing on the strategy, he got shuffled and lost his edge. While he was scored the leader when the yellow flew, the advantage was neutralized once pit stops cycled out.
Joey Logano, another driver who attempted a strategy play by staying out, slipped outside the top 10 in the final laps. His car lacked speed on older tires, and the decision by crew chief Paul Wolfe didn’t produce the gain they hoped for.
Chase Briscoe Seals It in a Fuel-Saving Finale
With less than 20 laps remaining, the stage was set for a tense dash to the finish. Briscoe, now back up front, got help from Chase Elliott and others on the restart and took control. The outside lane surged ahead, and Briscoe quickly cleared the field.
But with tire wear and fuel mileage hanging over the closing laps, it became a question of whether the No. 19 Toyota had enough in the tank. Briscoe answered that question emphatically. Holding off all challengers and carefully managing his equipment, he crossed the finish line first, delivering a long-awaited win to Joe Gibbs Racing.
News in Brief: Highlights from The Great American Getaway 400
The 2025 edition of the Cup Series race at Pocono had everything fans could ask for—strategy, suspense, hard racing, and redemption. Chase Briscoe’s victory wasn’t just about fast laps or track position; it was about execution, trust in his crew, and staying cool under fire.
For Brad Keselowski and others on the playoff bubble, it was another missed opportunity. For Briscoe and the No. 19 team, it was the kind of moment that can reshape a season. And for the fans who waited out the weather, it was worth every minute.
ALSO READ: 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Entry List: The Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway
Our Reader’s Queries
Q: Who won the NASCAR race today at Pocono?
Chase Briscoe won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, June 22, 2025. He held off his teammate Denny Hamlin to secure his first victory of the season and his third career Cup Series win.
Q: Who has the most NASCAR wins at the Pocono?
A. Denny Hamlin holds the record for the most NASCAR Cup Series wins at Pocono Raceway, with seven victories.
Q: How long is the Great American Getaway 400?
The 160-lap, 400-mile event, titled “The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISITPA,” will showcase Pennsylvania’s new tourism brand to a broad audience.
